Corrina came in the house and found Jevina (the bulldog) waiting for her.

"You're coming in awfully late" she said eying Corrina suspiciously.

"The little girl had a nightmare." Corrina said knowing that she was opening a Pandora's box.

Jevina jumped up reminding her of the games white people played. She didn't need her telling her what was already running through her mind. Was Manny Singer really interested in her as a woman or was he just playing some sort of stupid game leading her on? That question popped in her head over and over again.

She tried to keep her guard up, tried to remain professional but it was getting harder and harder every day. Manny treated her like a woman and not like a maid. He looked at her with those puppy dog eyes like he wanted to eat her up. He was the perfect gentleman, but she could see passion in those eyes and it alarmed her.

She didn't know what to think and Jevina wasn't helping matters by vocalizing some of the same thoughts that were tormenting her. Every fiber of her being told her to run from the situation like her hair was on fire and yet she was drawn to Manny Singer. The way he looked at her made her want to melt and a part of her wished that he would just relieve her of the stress she was feeling and take her in his arms and have his way with her.

Molly was another problem. She had already allowed her to miss a week of school and she hadn't told Manny about it. The child teared up and trembled each time she took her to the school. Every morning was the same thing. She told Molly that today would be the day she would return to school. She would drive up to the school and Molly would fall apart. She ended up giving in and taking her with her to her outside jobs cleaning houses. She knew that she couldn't continue to allow her to miss school, but she couldn't bear to see the child so upset.

Molly was tired and sweaty after they came home from cleaning and Corrina insisted that she take a bath after her. Corrina quickly showered and changed into an extra uniform and then had Molly get in the tub.

She did not know that Manny had come into the house from work until he called out and told Molly that the two of them would cook dinner on the grill for her. Corrina was surprised at his tactics to keep her there and smiled to herself.

She helped Molly out of the tub and had her get dressed. She found Manny in the kitchen placing the hotdogs and hamburgers on the counter.

"Well this is a surprise." she said smiling.

"Let me cook for you for a change." he said. "I'm going to change and I'll be right back. You just relax."

Corrina took the clothes off of the clothesline and carried them in the house. She folded them and put them away. She came to the back door and found Manny over the grill with a large chef's hat on. He was playing Louis Armstrong on the record player.

"That's my favorite song" she said watching him.

"Mine too" he said smiling at her.

Corrina was surprised at how much the two of them had in common. Why did he have to be a white man? Things would be so much easier if he was not.
Molly had set the table and it was beautiful. She had never seen Manny so happy and relaxed. It was a perfect evening.

They sat down and discussed music as they ate. She didn't know where the time went. Molly got up from the table and began to play with Lois and then she hoola hooped for a while. She watched her father and Corrina.

She wanted Corrina to be her new mother. Her father had called her that earlier and she liked the idea. She knew that he liked Corrina. She saw the way that they looked at each other. If her daddy married Corrina, then they could be a happy family and she would not have to deal with Jenny. She did not like Jenny or her mean sons. No, her daddy must marry Corrina.

Corrina was surprised to realize that it had gotten dark. Where had the time gone? She and Manny had been so engrossed in their conversation that they had lost track of the time.

"We need to go in." she said standing up.

He agreed but seemed somewhat disappointed that their conversation was ending. The desire she saw in his eyes as he watched her made her feel warm. She tried to concentrate on cleaning up from the cookout.

They quickly cleared the picnic table and took the remaining food in the house. Molly was yawning continuously and Corrina got her ready for bed.

She came out and found Manny at the piano working on his jingle. He was having a problem putting it together.

She looked at the picture of his wife and wondered what kind of woman she was. When Manny talked about her, she could still see the pain and love for her in his eyes. Oh to be loved by a man like that.

He asked her about Edward B. What could she say? He was a man that went out for cigarettes and never returned. A man that broke her heart and left her broke.

"Edward B" she said thinking aloud "He was not kind."

Manny patted the piano stool and she sat down beside him.

"Tell me what you think" he said playing the jingle.

Corrina worked with him as he played the jingle again. She was honored that he wanted her help and she found herself giving him suggestions. Before she knew it, the jingle was finished and Manny was ecstatic.

"Corrina!" he said smiling "You did it."

She smiled at him and he squeezed her hand. He leaned over and kissed her cheek and the familiar heat ran through her body.

"You're the best thing that has happened to me in a long time." he confessed looking at her.

"Manny, I don't know what to say, how to feel." she said looking away.

"You say what's on your heart." he said.

He began playing a melody on the piano. "Feelings are often expressed through music when you can't find the words." he said "I'm expressing mine right now. Do you hear what I am trying to say to you? Would you like to join in and express yours?"

Corrina was taken aback. This man was so romantic...so damn sexy! She didn't know how she was going to continue to work here under these conditions without grabbing him and tearing his clothes off. Instead she joined in and played right along with him. He looked at her and smiled and she did the same. His hands brushed against hers as they played and he looked at her again, his desire obvious. She felt the wetness gather between her thighs as he played, his fingers touching hers occasionally. He looked at her every few moments and smiled. Never had she been romanced like this. The song ended much too soon.

"I think I'd better go." she said trying to get herself together.

He surprised her and took her hand and raised it to his lips kissing it.

"I know" he said as she stood up on shaky legs.

Corrina did not want to go, but if she didn't there was no telling what she would do.

****************************************

Corrina was glad to help Manny with Molly's birthday. He told her that it was just an intimate gathering with just his parents.

She was secretly glad and was a little nervous about meeting his parents.

Harry and Ava Singer seemed nice enough and Corrina was glad that they did not treat her as a lowly maid. She could see the suspicion in his mother's eyes as she looked from Manny to her on several occasions. It reminded her of her own sister so she knew that she would have to keep her guard up.

Manny's father did not talk much since his stroke and he moved at a slow pace. He smiled at Corrina and patted her hand several times as she helped him.

The party was wonderful and Molly seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself. She knew however, that it was time for her to go when Molly wanted to go to the car wash as part of her birthday present. The expression that Ava had on her face when Molly asked if Corrina could go too let her know that it was time to make her exit for home.

"I have to go." Corrina said standing. "Molly you enjoy the rest of your birthday."

Molly looked sad and didn't reply. "I will see you later, OK?" Corrina said clearing up the trash. "You all go on. I'll clean up here."

"You sure?" Manny asked and Corrina could see his mother watching.

"Of course, Mr. Singer" she said noting the confused look on his face.

She smiled cutting her eyes to the side and he looked over at his mother and caught on to what she was doing.

"Alright then." he said smiling back at her. "We'll sell you later."

His mother helped Manny carry the rest of the food in the house and Corrina looked up from wiping off the picnic table to see Grandpa Harry beckoning her over to where he was sitting.

She walked over to him and he patted her hand. "Manny has good taste." he said winking at her. She was shocked not knowing what to say.

Before she could reply Ava came out of the house. "Come on Harry, let's go."

Corrina walked back over to the table and continued her cleaning.

She looked up to see Ava watching her. "Goodbye Mr. and Mrs. Singer" she said.

Mr. Singer winked again as he stood behind his wife. "Goodbye Mrs. Washington" Manny's mother replied.

*******************************************

Corrina still had not been able to get Molly to return to school and she didn't know what she was going to do about it. She couldn't tell Manny. He would be furious that she had allowed it to go on for a week without letting him know. She would give her one more day and that was it.

The house was particularly messy after a wild party. It took quite a while for the two of them to get it cleaned up. They took the leftovers over to Jevina's and the kids had a time eating them. Corrina knew that their dinner would be ruined, but what the hell? It wasn't everyday that they would get these types of goodies. She told Molly that she was going to go back to school the next day no matter what!

They went home exhausted and decided to take a nap before she started dinner. She didn't know how long the two of them had slept until she opened her eyes and saw Manny standing in the doorway.

He told her that he had a very good day at work and presented her with a present. It was the Louis Armstrong album with their favorite song. He then told her that he was going to take them out for dinner.

Corrina quickly changed and put on her makeup. This felt almost like a date and she was nervous. She almost lost it when Manny asked Molly about school and when she spelled vacuum h-o-o-v-e-r she thought she would faint on the spot. They got through that ordeal by the skin of their teeth!

Manny took them to a nice Chinese restaurant. She noticed people staring at them and glanced at Manny. He did not seem to pay any attention to it or maybe he just didn't care. She smiled to herself.

Things went quickly downhill when she got up to go to the bathroom and another patron took her to be a waitress, grabbing her arm when she ignored his request. Manny was instantly on his feet and she had to stand between the two of them. She begged Manny to let it go but he was mad as hell.

They quickly left the restaurant after he paid the bill.

"He had no right grabbing you like that!" Manny snapped.

"Manny it's OK, I'm used to it." she said quietly

"Well I'm not!" he said "I don't care what people think. I heard them call me a nigger lover. Well if that's what I am because I want to be with you, then so be it!"

Corrina glanced at Molly who was listening intently.

"Maybe we should drop this for now." she said glancing at her.

Manny took a puff from his cigarette and didn't reply.

He took her home and they rode the rest of the way in silence. If they were going to be in a relationship, Manny would have to learn quickly that this was the way of the world. Black and white were not supposed to be together in public.

She quickly walked into the house and found Jevina waiting for her on the couch. Being the bulldog that she was she quickly jumped on her when she found out that Manny had bought her the album. She didn't need another mother and told her so. She knew that Jevina was not being mean, she was just worried and concerned that she would be was glad that she could divert the conversation when she found a letter for her from High Hat Magazine.

Jevina took the letter hoping that this one would be different, but she doubted it. She hated to see the disappointment on Corrina's face again.
Jevina read it to Corrina and it was another rejection letter. Even though Jevina with all her mouth tried to get Corrina to give up this dream, she was instantly grieved upon reading the letter to Corrina. She hated to see her sister hurt and she didn't want anything but the best for her. Why wouldn't she talk to Anthony? He was a safe bet and he liked Corrina. Why did she have an infatuation with that white man and she knew that nothing good could come out of it? No matter how much Corrina protested, Jevina knew instinctively that Corrina was attracted to that man. She prayed that he would not take advantage of her sister.

******************************

Corrina still couldn't get Molly back to school and since she had no houses to clean that day she did all of her housework and then took Molly over to her house to play with her nieces.

She had agreed to take them to choir rehearsal that day and Molly wanted to go along also. She smiled as Molly sang with the choir 'This little light of mine.' Regardless of what Manny thought, this child was already beginning to believe in God. She fit right in with the rest of the children and even asked to speak to the Reverend.

When they got back to the house, she saw the mail in the mailbox and saw a letter from the school. She opened it and read it and saw that the school was questioning Molly's absences. She read the letter to Molly and told he that she had to go back or they both would get in trouble.

Their conversation was interrupted by Manny coming into the kitchen.

"Where don't you want to go?" he asked catching the end of their conversation.

"Back to Jenny's" Molly responded looking at Corrina and then to him.

"Well we won't talk about that now." Manny said smiling.

Manny told them that he was going to get the Mr. Bromide account. He presented both Corrina and Molly with flowers. Corrina was surprised and the doorbell rang before she could reply.

She was curious to hear a woman's voice coming from the door and she got up and stood in the doorway holding the flowers that Manny gave her.
She saw a young woman hugging Manny holding a bottle of champagne. Who was this? she wondered. She looked at Molly who walked over to her. She did not look happy.

"Oh this must be your girl." the woman said spying Corrina.

Corrina waited for Manny to set the woman straight but instead he introduced them to each other. Corrina did not like the woman's condescending attitude. She felt the anger rise up as the woman looked at her and quickly gave an order for her to get them an ice bucket and two glasses. The woman was smiling at Manny as if there was something between them.

Corrina looked at Manny again waiting for some type of explanation, but he came over and took the bottle from Jenny and went into the kitchen. Jenny looked at the flowers Corrina was holding and made a comment. Corrina knew that she wanted her to tell her if Manny had given them to her and she refused to answer the woman or even acknowledge her.

Manny looked nervous and began looking for his cigarettes. Corrina was furious that he would just let this woman come in and take over. Well she certainly knew where she stood with him now! All that talk after the incident at the restaurant about wanting to be with her must have been a lie! How could she be such a fool? She thought about what Jevina had told her and she fought to keep her dignity. She would not let this woman see how she was affected by her being here. She walked to the chair and put on her jacket. She was not going to stay here another minute! Let him enjoy his evening with his precious Jenny. She could have her portion of the dinner she had prepared for the three of them.!

Manny looked at her pleading and she ignored him and walked out the door without looking back. She would not be made a fool of. Tomorrow she was going to give Mr. Singer a piece of her mind as well as one weeks notice!