The day started out great. Manny was very attentive giving her seductive looks before she pushed him out of the door to go to work. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"I'll be home by five." he said.

There were no houses to clean that day and Corrina attempted again to get Molly up for school.

"I don't want to go yet." Molly protested.

"Molly you know this can't continue." Corrina reasoned "If your father finds out, I'll be in big trouble. You have to go back to school."

"I'll go next week!" Molly promised. "There's no use going back to school on a Thursday. It's better to start fresh on Monday."

Corrina knew that she was just stalling, but gave in anyway.

They cleaned up around the house and then they went to her house to meet the kids when they got out of school.

She knew that Molly wanted to play with Lizzie, Mavis and Percy. She had plans for them to play dress up while she straightened up the house.

The banging on the door took her totally by surprise and she was shocked to hear Manny's voice. He stormed into the house demanding to know where Molly was.

The day of reckoning had arrived when he snapped at her for keeping Molly out of school. She knew she was busted and tried to explain. Manny wouldn't hear any of it and it shocked her when he yelled at her and reminded her that she was not Molly's mother.

She knew that! But oh how his words hurt hitting her square in the face. Then he turned at the door.

"Stay away. You're fired, Corrina."

How could he do this? How could he just dismiss her after all she had done for Molly. She loved the child. Didn't he know that. Tears threatened to fall but she refused to cry.

She heard Molly screaming her name as he put her in the car and pulled off.

Corrina sat down, her legs weak. He was just upset. Surely he would call and they would work this out.

However, Manny did not call that day or the next. He had truly written her off. She told Jevina and Frank that she had lost her job, but that she would continue to do day work until she found something else.

Thankfully Jeniva did not question her. The pain on Corrina's face was obvious. Manny had written her off. Everything he had told her must have been a lie. He didn't care about her. He probably went running to Jenny. The thought tore at her insides. She knew that she was in love with him, but now it was over. Why hadn't she guarded her heart more carefully?

She tried not to mope around the house, but she couldn't help it. Thoughts of Manny and Jenny being together invaded her dreams. She wondered how Molly was doing.

By the forth day she had resigned herself to the fact that she would never see Molly or Manny again. She had to go on with her life. She looked up as the kids ran into the house.

"He's back!" Lizzie said breathing hard.

"Who's back?" Corrina said walking to the door. She was shocked to see Manny coming up the walkway. What did he want? She vowed that she wouldn't listen to him.

"Hi" he said. He looked terrible, his eyes sad. It looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

"I should have called. My father died...it gets you to thinking about the people you love...the things you've said, what you shouldn't have said...."

Corrina looked at him willing herself not to give in. Was he saying that he loved her?

"Corrina, your supper's getting cold" Jevina said interrupting her thoughts.

"Corrina, I'm sorry. I don't want the last words to you to be-"

"That's alright." she said interrupting him. She shut the door before he could see how he was affecting her.

She glanced over at the binder she had made for Molly and decided to give it to him before her pulled off.

She was surprised when she opened the door and found him looking up at the sky apparently talking to God.

She walked up on him, surprising him.

She knew that he came there for her and it shocked her that he was crying at her rejection.

She still loved him and wanted him, but she would no longer be with him under the pretense of being his maid. She wanted more and wanted him to understand that.

She told him that she quit and she saw the relief come over his face. He looked at her, his eyes full of love. He was ready to let the world know that she was the one he wanted to be with and it made her happy. He took her in his arms in broad daylight showering kisses on her. This is what she thought she wanted, but the neighbors! They would see his emotional display and start talking.

"Manny I live in this neighborhood." she said pulling away and grabbing his hand. "Come inside!"

He happily followed her and she introduced him to her family. Jevina looked at her surprised and invited him to have dinner with them. Jevina noticed that his gaze hardly strayed from Corrina. She held her peace until after the kids had finished eating and then told them to go outside to play.

"So are you hiring Corrina back" Jevina asked looking directly at Manny.

His face flushed red as he glanced back at Corrina.

"I know you are concerned about my intentions towards your sister." he said to Jevina. "No, I'm not hiring her back. She let me know outside that she would not return as my maid."

Jevina's voice was hard. "So what are you offering my sister…a hidden affair in a back alley somewhere with the two of you sneaking around?"

She knew she was being blunt, but this was her sister he was talking about!

Corrina gasped. Jevina had no tact about some things. "You know I'd never do that Jevina." she said.

Manny reached for Corrina's hand smiling. "I want to marry your sister if she'd have me" he said looking from Frank to Jevina.

"Oh Good Lord!" Jevina quipped "Do you even know what you are saying? Marriage? White men do not marry colored women and live an easy life!"

Manny drew up as if he had been slapped. "I know there are some ignorant people out there-"

"You don't know the half" Jevina argued "You could lose your job and everything you've worked for. Your white neighbors won't stand for you to stay in that neighborhood. Your daughter will suffer and be teased-"

"That's enough, Jevina" Frank said interrupting her. "I am sure that Manny has considered all these things. "

"Jevina, we're not rushing into marriage." Corrina said "We'll take it slow"

"I don't want to wait too long" Manny replied.

Jevina looked at the two of them and shook her head.

"Well I am happy for the both of you, but Manny I believe that you should go into this marriage expecting the worse with both of your eyes wide open."

"Nothing could be worse than the life I've lived after my wife died." he responded. "Since Corrina has been in my life, I feel alive again. Nothing could be worse than my life before Corrina became a part of it."

Jevina raised an eyebrow at his declaration and did not respond.

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

Corrina rode to Manny's house not believing what had just happened. He had declared his love for her to her whole family. She looked over at him and he smiled back at her.

"Now that we've informed your family, now I'm taking you to my mom." he said.

"What about Jenny" she said hating to ask.

"I will have a talk with her as well as Sid and Shirl. Don't worry about it." he said pulling up in front his house.

Molly was sitting on the stoop with her grandmother and she ran to the car when she saw them pull up

"Corrina!" she squealed in delight. Corrina hugged her close.

They got out of the car and Corrina met Mrs. Singer on the walkway.

"Welcome home daughter" Mrs. Singer said smiling. Corrina was surprised at her greeting and looked up at Manny.

Corrina was shocked. "Mrs. Singer-"

Mrs. Singer waved her hand in front of her face ."Just make my Manfred happy." she said

Mrs. Singer beckoned her to bend down so that she could whisper in her ear.

"Give me some more grandbabies." she said smiling.

"Yes ma'am" Corrina replied trying not to laugh.

Manny looked at her "What was that all about?"

"Oh just girl talk." she replied entering the house and not looking back.