Cursed Read Online Free PDF

cracked doors as he passed then stopped. His father was alone in the masculine study with its heavy wood furniture, thick drapes, and natural lighting.
    “Hey,” he said, pushing open the door. “You have guests?”
    “Waiting for you.”
    Frederick Washington was a slender, tall man with stylish, rectangular glasses and a quick smile. Jayden’s chiseled looks came from his mother’s side, but his height and charisma he got directly from his father.
    “Really?” Jayden crossed to the chair across from his father and sat.
    “You look rough, kiddo,” his father said. “Not going to ask why.”
    There was no open animosity between his parents anymore, though Jayden knew they weren’t on friendly terms, either.
    “You talk to her about Izzy?” his father asked.
    “Not yet.”
    “You wanted me to wait.”
    “I know, Daddy. Just … give me ‘til the end of the week. The last thing she needs is to be dragged to court over this. I barely got her together after her last incident.”
    “ Dolo toujou couri lariviere . It’s in her nature,” his father recited the Creole proverb. Again, different than regular French where the word would be toujours, I believe. “It’s not your responsibility to put your mother together.”
    “It’s not my responsibility to babysit the girls every day either or go to their PTA meetings and soccer matches because you’re too busy being the black Steve Jobs!” Jayden shot back.
    His father was unaffected by the outburst. “One day, they’ll refer to someone as the white Frederick Washington,” came the amused response.
    “Whatever, dad.”
    “You’ve got it good, Jay. When people see you, they don’t see your skin. They see your daddy’s wallet. You never had to deal with what I did growing up. Our family is respectable, but once was poor.”
    “Mama’s family says I’m too white already.”
    “Backwards, superstitious, and ignorant. White people aren’t the only ones who can get a good education. Still into voodoo?” his father asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “If it were real, they’d buy themselves winning lotto tickets.”
    Jayden snorted, aware he’d thought the same earlier.
    “They’d spend it all and end up back in the Lower Ninth. It’s how backwards people behave.”
    Hearing the words out loud made Jayden aware of how harsh they were. He was embarrassed to think he’d thought the same earlier in the day, when he was itching to get away from people who were so unlike him.
    “I don’t want Izzy ever exposed to that,” his father said softly. “You know why. You can handle it. She’s a sensitive girl with a good future. It’s in her best interest if your mama signs away her parental rights, so I can raise the girl right.”
    “I agree,” Jayden replied, hating himself a little for it. He loved his mother, and it hurt to know she wasn’t capable of taking care of his sweet little sister.
    “I know this is a lot for you to handle, Jayden. You got college, football, Kimmie, and now this. Why not just let me take her to court and you can focus on school?”
    “Because it doesn’t seem right to take Izzy. Mama won’t negotiate with you. She will…might with me,” Jayden said firmly. “Daddy, she’s got no one to take care of her except those relatives of hers – of mine! – who are making her crazy.”
    “If your mama wanted to change, she would. They don’t make her do anything. She’s as messed up as they are.”
    A small piece of Jayden knew as much, but she was his mother! How did he walk away from her, after all he’d done to try to help?
    “It’s not a problem, Daddy,” he said. “If my way fails, we can try yours. Besides, I don’t have Kimmie to complicate life, so I’ve got an opening for some drama.” He laughed.
    “What happened with Kimmie?”
    “She’s just too much work.”
    His father regarded him for a moment. “Kimmie’s parents are wealthy and well-connected here in town. You’d make a great pair.”
    “I’m