I had to go get the family. I couldn’t let them miss this.
“Miss Chippy! Miss Chippy!” I called out. There I was, acting like a kid again. My shouting caused such a stir that practically every family member in the house came running to see what was going on.
“Sonya, what’s wrong?” Miss Chippy said. She looked terrified. No doubt she was expecting to hear terrible news.
I smiled, letting her know there was nothing to fear. “It’s Mr. Duncan,” I said excitedly. “He’s awake.”
“What?” She placed her hand on her chest and leaned against the wall to steady herself.
“Awake,” London said as she brushed past us quickly to go into the room. Miss Chippy and I were right behind her, followed by Orlando.
“He asked for a glass of water,” I told her. “He’s not just awake, but he seems to be alert.”
“Daddy,” London said, throwing her hands over her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears. Harris entered the room just in time to comfort his wife.
I looked to Orlando, who was choking back tears of joy. His face looked more relaxed than I’d seen it in weeks.
No one’s emotions, however, matched the depth of feelings displayed by Miss Chippy. Dr. Whitmore moved to the side to allow her a moment with her husband. Tears poured from her eyes as she walked over to LC, placing her hands gently on his face as she leaned in to give him a kiss that communicated the strength of the deep, abiding love they shared.
He’d been in a coma for almost a month now. No one knew when, or if, he’d ever come out of it. This moment proved that LC Duncan wasn’t the head of this family for nothing. It was going to take more than a couple of bullets and a coma to keep him down.
“LC,” Chippy said softly, taking his hand.
He opened his mouth and croaked out, “Water.”
Chippy smiled as if he had just said the most beautiful word she had ever heard. She looked over her shoulder at all of us. “You heard my husband,” she said, then looked lovingly back at LC. “Get my husband some water.”
Discussion questions
1. Who is your favorite Duncan?
2. Is Vegas as bad-ass as you expected?
3. Was Junior wrong for walking out on the family?
4. Did X’s rats creep you out?
5. Were you afraid when LC got shot?
6. Were you upset that Connie died?
7. Who do you think shot LC?
8. Have you ever been in the situation where you might have to pull the plug on a loved one?
9. Did you feel bad for Marie when Nevada was introduced?
10. What do you think of Nevada, and where would you like to see him fit in future stories?
11. Did X get what he deserved?
12. What did you think of Bernie the Jew?
13. Who is sexier, Paris or Sasha?
14. Who did you feel was the real villain of this book?
15. Do you like Chippy’s role?
16. Would you like to see a love triangle story between Daryl, London, and Harris?
17. Do you think Sasha and Elijah could have made it as a couple?
18. Do you think Rio stepped up?
19. What are your feelings about Minister Farah?
20. What did you think of the ending?
Coming Summer 2015
GRAND OPENING
(LC, Lou & Chippy’s Story) Once Upon a Time in the South
I’ll never forget the sound of that organ and the sight of Mrs. Beasley, the sweet, elderly lady almost too blind to play it. Four people were in attendance that day, but none of them were my family. Not even a best man for me. My collar was too tight, making it hard to swallow. It took all my control not to reach up, yank my necktie loose, undo my top button, and ask for a glass of water. Yeah, I was uncomfortable and thirsty—and this was one of those churches where air conditioning wasn’t checked on the option box.
But doing any of that would’ve been disrespectful of me during what was to be a joyous occasion here in the house of the Lord. And I was always the respectful one, the responsible one. At least that’s how the moms and grandmothers around town always referred to me.
Lavernius Duncan.