Manny watched as Jenny took the food out of the oven. This evening was not turning out the way he had planned. Molly looked miserable and Jenny chatted continuously.

They sat down and he hardly tasted the food. He wished that she would just shut up.

"You don't seem too happy, Manny" Jenny said giving her brightest smile

"I'm fine" he replied his voice calm. He turned his attention back to his food.

"May I be excused, Daddy" Molly said her eyes throwing daggers at Jenny.

"Sure." Manny replied.

"Well then" Jenny said jumping up. "Let's get on with that toast to Mr. Bromide I spoke about earlier."

"It's not official yet." Manny replied.

"Oh I know you're going to get it" she said her voice still chipper.

Manny didn't reply and watched Molly walk into her bedroom and close the door.

He needed a cigarette. He got up and began clearing the table.

"Let me help you." Jenny said showing her pearly whites.

It took all of his effort not to roll his eyes. He wished that she would just leave. He thought about Corrina and wondered if she was still angry.

They retired to the living room and Jenny put on her most seductive pose. He thought she looked ridiculous and wished that she would just be herself. He listened as she talked about herself, her education, her upbringing. He supposed that she was trying to impress him with her pedigree, but all it did was bore him to no end.

He looked at her and wondered if she ever got tired of talking. Corrina did not talk nonstop and she always seemed to think before she spoke which made him concentrate on what she was saying all the more. Jenny just talked and after a while any normal person would tune her out.

"I have to go check on Molly." he said finally needing a break from her chatter. "I need to make sure she's in her pajamas"

"I'll come with you." she volunteered.

"No, no that's alright you stay here." Manny said leaving the room.

He found Molly sulking on the bed.

"Has she left yet?" she asked.

"No honey, not yet." Manny replied.

"Why did she have to come over here? I wanted Corrina to stay!" she snapped.

"Molly, Jenny is my company. You will behave. Now get ready for bed" Manny said firmly.

He returned to the living room and sat next to Jenny. She began talking about her marriage still trying to sound seductive.

The phone began to ring and he found out that it was Molly playing on the phone. He really couldn't be mad with her. It was a pleasant distraction from Jenny. He never thought he would be in a position where he would have to resist a woman's persistent advances.

He tried not to laugh when Molly came out of the room wearing her mother's favorite dress and offered Jenny some cigarettes. He made her go back to bed and told her not to come back out of her bedroom that night.

He returned to the living room and sat down.

"I'm sorry Jenny" he said "Molly is just not used to me having someone over."

"Of course" Jenny replied "However Manny you must be firm with her. She has to learn that she cannot be the only woman in your life."

Manny did not reply but lit a cigarette that he took from the pack he confiscated from Molly.

"I wish you wouldn't smoke" she said fanning her hand in front of her face.

He stared at her a moment and put the cigarette out.

"Look Jenny, it's been a long day. I appreciate you coming over and all, but I think I'll call it a night."

Jenny looked surprised. "Well alright Manny." she said standing. He walked her to the door and he knew that she expected him to kiss her. He quickly gave her a peck on the cheek as he opened the door. He saw the disappointment and confusion on her face and looked away.

"Thanks again, Jenny" he said.

"Manny" she said turning around and leaning on the doorway. "Annie's gone. Your life goes on. I know it's hard to love again, but you must...for Molly's sake. She needs a mother."

Manny looked at her. "I appreciate your frankness, Jenny. I'll give it some thought."

She smiled and he was glad to close the door behind her.

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

Manny looked at the clock and wondered if Corrina was going to show up. It was 8:15 and she normally was there by 8 o'clock. When she did not arrive by 8:30 he called her house. Her brother-in-law answered the phone and told him that she had left for work her normal time.

Manny hung up the phone relieved. Molly was still in bed. He had to be at work by nine and he stood on the front steps and waited. Of all days for her to be late! He needed to talk to her and clear the air.

He was relieved to see her walking towards the house from the bus stop. He approached her tentatively. "Hi"

"The bus driver was twenty minutes late." she said walking towards the house.

He tried to talk to her, but she ignored him and walked into the house and shut the door.

"Whether you like it or not, I employ you." he said to her.

She came back out of the house and he knew that she was still pissed about Jenny. She told him that she was giving him one week's notice. He knew that she was jealous and he wanted to explain.

Manny apologized for what happened with Jenny and that he wanted her to stay. He knew that she was still angry with him even though she accepted his apology. She then put her 'professional business only' guard up. He knew that she really wasn't going to quit, and he doubted if their relationship would be 'business only'. He smiled at her despite himself.
He agreed to all her terms. Whatever! As long as she wasn't leaving.

He looked at his watch and it was almost nine. He told her that he would be home around five and began trying to put on his suit jacket. Corrina stepped off the step and helped him straightening his coat. He didn't realize that they gave each other a goodbye kiss until he had taken a few steps. Well what the hell? There was no use denying his feelings for her any longer.

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

Manny returned home at five and found Corrina in the kitchen.

"Where's Molly?" he asked.

"Out back playing with Lois." Corrina said not looking up.

Manny was glad that he had the opportunity to talk to her.

"Corrina, sit down for a moment." he said.

She did not respond but did as he requested. He pulled his chair around and took her hands in his.

"I know you are upset with me about last night."

"Forget it, Manny." she said "I understand. You don't want anyone to know that you're interested in a colored woman."

Manny winced. "That's not it. Last night I didn't want to start something in front of Molly. Jenny is not the most docile person and I knew that she wouldn't leave without some sort of outburst."

Corrina laughed "You're probably right."

Manny looked at her rubbing his thumbs across her knuckles. "I'm not ashamed of being with you. I want us to be together. It just feels right. We'll take it slow. I won't rush you. I just want you to know that I don't want Jenny. She means nothing to me."

Corrina felt as if her heart was going to explode out of her chest.

"Perhaps we should keep it low key for a while." she admitted "I know that I'm not ready to tell my family, so I can't be mad with you for feeling the same way. It's going to be hard enough convincing them, so we need to get used to each other and convince ourselves that this can work first."

Manny bought her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "You're a very wise woman."

"I know." she said smiling.

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

Manny gave Corrina part of Saturday off since his mother called him and told him that she needed some help around the house.

His mother was concerned about Molly spending so much time with Corrina. He ignored her fears and told her that Corrina was the best thing to happen to Molly. He was surprised however, when she told him that his nosy neighbor Mrs. Murphy had called her and told her that he was kissing Corrina on his front steps.

He did not want to listen to what Mrs. Murphy thought. He could tell his mother was worried and she said as much letting him know that society would never accept the two of them being together.

"Listen to me Manfred." she said "A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where will the build their nest?"

Were he and Corrina all that different? He didn't think so.

"Ma, I'm a grown man. I will be with whoever I chose to be with." he said

"Manny, what is wrong with Jenny?" she said pleading "She is a beautiful woman."

"I don't love her" he said simply "I don't want her, ma. Don't you understand?"

His mother looked at him sadly "And what about Mrs. Washington?"

"I'm not going to lie to you. I'm falling in love with her." he confessed. "I know what you are saying, but I can't help how I feel."

His mother shook her head. "You should think about Molly."

He grabbed his mother by the shoulders. "Ma, I am thinking about Molly! Molly was a mess. She wasn't talking. Look at her! Corrina has done so much for her...and for me. I can't let her go. I won't!"

"Alright, Manny." his mother said patting his shoulder. "I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into."

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

Manny had a very productive week at work and decided to leave early on Friday. He bought Molly a kite and they went outside to try it out.

Corrina was standing next to him and he couldn't resist putting his arms around her. Mrs. Murphy began cutting her hedges loudly and he looked back and found her giving him a disapproving glare. He immediately removed his hands from around Corrina and she looked back seeking Mrs. Murphy.

Well that old bat wasn't going to control his life! Manny thought and put his arm back around his woman. Corrina then put her arm around him also. It felt good. To hell with what people thought! Molly seemed pleased also.

The kite got away from Molly and they chased it to the back yard. Manny was surprised to find a large number of cigarettes in the sandbox! He looked around and saw Molly run into the house. He was going to get to the bottom of this. Upon entering her bedroom he saw Lois surrounded by a large number of cigarettes that Molly had hidden in her dollhouse.

All this time he thought that Corrina was smoking up all his stash and it was Molly who was hiding them. He was surprised when he found out from her that she did it because she thought that they would die. Finally he was able to talk about Annie without a lump in his throat. Healing for him had truly begun.

He really was upset when the furniture truck pulled up with the pink sofa Annie had ordered. It was even funny to him when they couldn't get it into the house. The doors would have to be removed and the men were coming back (for a nominal fee) tomorrow to help get it in the house.
In the meanwhile Manny had them sit it in the backyard.

After putting Molly to bed that evening, Manny put on Louis Armstrong and invited Corrina to sit with him on the new sofa. When their favorite song began to play he asked her to dance. He loved the way she felt in his arms. The smell of lavender and vanilla invaded his senses as he held her close.

Manny could feel himself becoming aroused as he held her in his arms. He pulled back a little looking at her. She looked up and he bent down and kissed her lips for the first time. He could feel the heat between them. The softness and sweetness of her lips was better than he could have possibly imagined and he pulled her closer.

"Manny" she whispered. "Look at the window"

He then saw Molly grinning at them.

"I've got to go." Corrina said breathing hard.

Manny kissed her on the cheek "I don't want you to go."

He pulled her closer making his desire for her apparent. "I haven't felt this way in so long, Corrina."

"Me either" she said.

He kissed her lips again and then felt her pull away.

"Alright." he said "I'll call you a cab."

Manny walked towards the house with his arm around her waist.

"The day is coming Corrina," he said seriously "When I won't allow you to leave me. The day is coming when I will possess all of you and you will possess all of me."

She looked at him surprised at his confession.

"I look forward to that day." she said smiling back at him.

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