Chapter One

"Thanks for bringing me here," Mimi smiled weakly.

Roger Davis smiled back reassuringly, and then breathed a sigh of relief. Mimi looked better. He was afraid he'd lost her.

"I miss Angel," Mimi commented.

"Me, too." Roger gently kissed the top of her head and patted her shoulder. She smelled amazing. How could she smell that way after living on the street and then the hospital? "Are you warm enough?" Roger asked, removing his leather jacket and placing it onto Mimi's tiny frame.

"I'm fine," Mimi smiled with her "Cheshire cat" grin. "Thanks."

The couple remained in silence for several minutes. Mimi finally spoke: "I'm ready to go." She quietly rose from the park bench, on which she'd been seated, and placed the single red rose she'd been holding onto Angel's grave. "Happy New Year, honey." Mimi blew a kiss toward the headstone; then waved in its direction.

Roger carefully put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. They left the cemetery in silence, both wondering what the New Year would hold for them.


Mark turned off the projector when he heard footsteps in the loft. "Hey!" he exclaimed when he realized it was Roger and Mimi. "You're finally back!" He kissed Mimi's cheek then hugged her cautiously. She looked fragile enough to break if he squeezed too hard.

"They dismissed her this morning, but she wanted to stop by the cemetery before coming home," Roger informed his friend. He helped Mimi remove the leather jacket from her shoulders. "Here, come lie down." Roger escorted Mimi to the couch and covered her with a threadbare cotton blanket once she had curled into the fetal position.

Mark's eyes welled with tears as he watched his roommate. Roger had spent every waking moment at the hospital; ensuring that Mimi was comfortable, serving her meals, and playing his guitar for her. Mark couldn't have been more proud of his friend. Mark scrounged around the makeshift kitchen until he found two ancient-looking tea bags. He warmed some water on the hot plate, and then dropped in the tea bags into two chipped coffee mugs. Roger should have the mug that still had a handle. He poured the water into the mugs and handed the "good" cup to his friend.

"Thanks," Roger said, blowing steam from the top of his cup.

"You looked like you could use something."

"Yeah." Roger sipped his tea and watched Mimi sleep. "How long do you think she has?"

Mark was stunned at the question. "Um…I – I don't know." He stared blankly into his coffee mug, hoping desperately that Roger would change the subject.

"I just don't want to…" Roger sniffed a tear away. "I don't want to lose her, man."

"I know you don't," Mark consoled him. "But you can't use the time that's left for worrying. I mean we've learned firsthand that life is so short…"

"Yeah." Roger's eyes never left Mimi's pale face. She was so beautiful.

"So, uh, how was the cemetery?" Mark rolled his eyes and sighed at his own stupidity. Why was he always putting his foot in his mouth? "Sorry."

Roger smirked a little. He allowed his gaze to drift from the sleeping Mimi long enough to smile at his friend. His best friend. "Mimi wanted to say hi to Angel. I uh, hadn't been there since…" his voice trailed off. "It was okay." Roger turned his attention to the empty coffee mug for a moment, then back to Mimi.

"I've been a couple times. I thought…I thought that, uh, I might get some inspiration from visiting, but I…I haven't felt much like a filmmaker lately." Mark sighed again. Roger didn't want to hear about his problems. Roger had problems of his own. "Listen, if you want to go out for a while or rest or shower or something, I'll sit with…"

"No. Thanks," Roger interjected quickly. "I'm fine." Realizing his tone had sounded a bit abrasive, Roger looked at his friend and softly repeated: "I'm fine."


"Maureen, could you hurry up in the bathroom? We're going to be late!" Joanne Jefferson stormed down the hall, taking her coat from the hall tree as she went.

"I just can't go to dinner with your parents when I'm looking like this!" Maureen emerged from the bathroom hastily, her eyebrows furrowed in a pout.

Joanne almost laughed out loud when she saw Maureen.

"But you look wonderful! Besides, you promised. Now get your coat."

Maureen whimpered and stared down at the drab ensemble she was wearing. Never again would she allow Joanne Jefferson to choose her outfit. Nobody would notice her amazing body! "But Pookie," she whined, "nobody will even see me in this outfit!"

"That's exactly the point," Joanne chuckled. "What's wrong with basic black?"

"Nothing if it fits," Maureen pouted. She caught a glimpse of herself in the conservative black pantsuit in the mirror over the living room sofa. She frowned at the reflection.

"Honey bear, for you, fitting equals skin-tight." Joanne took Maureen's wrist and pulled her out of the apartment, locking the door behind them. "Let's go."


Paul Jefferson checked his watch for the thousandth time. It wasn't like Joanne to be late. He took his cellular phone from the inside pocket of his coat and dialed Joanne's mobile.

"Kitten, it's Dad. Just making sure you are still coming…yeah, Mummy and I have been here for about 20 minutes and…okay, Kitten. See you soon, then."

"Is she coming?" Darlene Jefferson asked.

"Yes. And she's bringing Maureen with her." Mr. Jefferson's eyes grew wide in frustration. It was bad enough that his daughter chose to be a lesbian…did she have to choose that Maureen person as a mate?

"I think we'll go ahead and have some wine," Mrs. Jefferson said, catching the waiter by the sleeve as he passed the table. "We could be in for an interesting night."