Forged by Fire Read Online Free PDF

whole story. Jordan, would you say grace?”
    Jordan walked his cowboy boots over to the table, sat down, and finally spoke. His voice was rough and gravelly, like he needed to clear his throat. He gave Aunt Queen another of those hard, cold looks, then muttered, “Let Gerald do it.”
    Aunt Queen, who realized that they didn’t need any more tension that morning, replied with quiet authority, “Let us pray. Dear Lord, be with this family. We’re gonna need you. Bless this food, and please be with Gerald on this special day. Amen.”
    Monique smiled nervously and admitted to Gerald, “Well, I guess you’ve got quite a few questions. Here, have some syrup on those pancakes. I remember how much you like maple syrup.”
    Gerald just frowned. The pancakes could have been cooked shoes for all he could taste, and the sweet smell of the syrup was making him feel sick. He couldn’t understand why Aunt Queen would let him go through this ordeal, especially on his birthday. He glanced across the table at her, and she looked pretty miserable as well. Jordan had a plateful of sausages and pancakes, but he looked angry for some reason. The little girl, Angel, was humming quietly to herself and licking maple syrup from her fingers.
    â€œGerald,” Aunt Queen began gently, “you didn’t know it—in fact, nobody did—but your mama was pregnant when she went to jail. The baby, Angel, was born there. I tried to get custody when she was born, but Jordan here says he’s her daddy, and he and his mother have been raising her down in Atlanta. This is the first time I’ve seen her.”
    Queen smiled at the child, but Angel wouldn’t look at her. She just kept pouring maple syrup on her fingers.
    â€œWe’ve been back in Cincinnati for almost a year now, Gerald,” continued Monique. “Me and Jordan are married. We got jobs, and Angel is in first grade. I didn’t want to come and see you until I could, uh, make you proud of me. So I waited till your birthday.” Gerald looked up at her and gave her a half-smile. Monique looked encouraged, took a deep breath, and blurted, “Me and Jordan want you to come and live with us!”
    Gerald choked, sputtered, and leaped from the table. “Live with you!” he shouted. “You gotta be kidding!” Tearsfilled his eyes and he ran out of the kitchen door, letting it slam behind him. He grabbed his bike and pedaled furiously away. It was very quiet in the kitchen for a moment.
    Aunt Queen was furious. “Why’d you do a fool thing like that?” she roared. “The boy wasn’t ready. You been remembering him every day for the last six years. But he’s been forgetting you. I thought we agreed that you’d let me mention the subject to him, gradually, in the next few weeks, after he’d had a chance to visit your place, after he got to know you better and feel comfortable with you. And it was s’posed to be
his
choice!”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Monique sobbed. “I couldn’t help it! I was just so excited about seein’ him. Now I’ve ruined everything! Jordan, what should I do?” Monique asked plaintively.
    Jordan looked at her briefly and shrugged. “Your kid. Your call.” He got up suddenly and Monique moved deftly out of his way, but she wasn’t quite swift enough. He brushed roughly against her as he was heading out the door. “I’m goin’ out for a smoke,” he said to no one in particular. He did not acknowledge Aunt Queen, nor did he thank her for the meal.
    Aunt Queen sighed. “Gerald will be gone for a while. I’ll talk to him when he gets back. We gotta take this slow, Monique. That boy ain’t goin’ nowhere he don’t want to, you understand?”
    Monique slumped in her seat and nodded. She completely ignored Angel, who had eaten very little and had not said a word throughout the