“I killed a man.” He said it with almost no emotion—like he was announcing that there was nothing good to watch on television.

Nina tried not to react, but that was impossible. He killed a man? She stared into Ahmad’s soulful eyes looking for something that might explain how a seemingly nice guy, a concerned father and a murderer could dwell together behind them.

“Maybe when I get to know you a little better…” His lips parted in a soft smile. “…I’ll tell you the whole story. But you can believe this. I’m not a cold-blooded killer.” He traced a tiny wave into the water with his hand and watched it ripple out. Without looking up he said, “I deprived a mother of her son, and some innocent children of their father. But I didn’t see any other option at the time. It was a decision I’ll live with forever.”

Nina was speechless. All this time she’d been trippin’ over this man, and he was a murderer. Convicted. Damn. Maybe the best thing to do from here on out is to just be the man’s friend.Whoa, he might have some kind of serious anger problem. After Derrick, she certainly didn’t need any more drama. Not that Ahmad didn’t deserve an opportunity to tell his side. He had been released after only five years. They must have decided he was no threat to society. But still, friendship was a good place to start—now that she really put some thought into it. She didn’t have any business trying to rush into something new anyway. She and Derrick had only just split up. Damn. He killed a man.

Ahmad interrupted her thoughts. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“I—I’ve got some things on my mind.” She quickly added, “I’m dealing with some family drama.”

“Drama? It looks like you have the perfect family.” Ahmad pointed toward the patio, where a crowd had gathered to dance. “Is that your mother dancing with your dad?”

Nina laughed softly. She couldn’t help herself. Mama was attempting a not-too-bad version of the butterfly, and Daddy was, of course, slaughtering the cabbage patch. The two were laughing and grinning suggestively at one another. Nina was relieved that they’d decided to make up. “That’s them. Well, actually she’s my adopted mother. My birth mother is dead.”

“I’m sorry.” Ahmad nodded his head slowly. “Mine too. I never knew my father. I grew up in foster homes.”

Now why’d he have to tell her that? All it made Nina want to do was give him a big hug and take care of what had to be a broken heart. First he loses his parents, then his wife? Nina wondered how he could handle all that loss and deal with parenthood, too. She finally asked, “What is it like to be a single dad after being away for so long?”

uth.”

“I get such a kick out of her. She has so much enthusiasm over the simplest of things.” Ahmad told her about the excitement Ebony had about going to “Micky Dee’s.” That’s when he told Nina about the incident with the officer that had led to his reaction to her at their first meeting. “All a brotha wanted to do was register for school and show up for a hard day’s work, and a man in uniform whose paycheck includes my tax dollars wants to take my dignity.” The rage simmered somewhere in the back of his throat, sprinkling his words with a tinge of irritation. He looked into Nina’s eyes and softened his tone. “I really am sorry for taking it out on you.”