watched again as they passed building after building.
“You can drop me off at Macy’s. It might be too early, but I can walk around until it opens.”
“You may also want to go to Greenwich Village or SoHo, if Macy’s doesn’t pan out. You can get there by subway.”
Angelica thanked Ari and looked straight ahead. She glanced his way again.
“Thank you again, Ari. I know I’ve been distant this morning, but I have a lot on my mind. Getting a job has consumed a lot ofmy mental energy. I don’t want to inconvenience you any longer than I have to.”
“You’re not inconveniencing me,” Ari said. “In fact, it’s nice to have a warm face to talk to in the evenings.”
Angelica twitched her mouth that settled into a smile. She enjoyed Ari’s attention, and he was a good-looking man with a good-looking body. There was no room for a man in her life at this time, although she momentarily thought about Malik and the kiss she placed on his lips. Ari would always be a special friend, an angel in her time of distress, nothing more and nothing less.
“We’re here,” Ari said, taking Angelica from her thoughts. “What time would you like to be picked up?”
Angelica had not given any thought to being displaced while Ari was at work. He did not offer her a key to his house and she was not going to ask for one. That would make life simple because she had no plans to stay at Ari’s for long.
“Give me your number,” Angelica said. “I’ll call you and we can work it out.”
“All right.” Ari wrote his cell number on the back of a card and handed it to Angelica. He smiled at her and Angelica jumped out.
She breathed in the air and looked around her, trying to decide which way to go. Macy’s looked threatening, but she was going to march in there and complete an application. She was going to become a working girl and brave all the elements of a New York City life.
18
D rapes were pulled back as the restless and impatient group began to peek out the window and pace the room, waiting for the arrival of the honoree. A large “WELCOME HOME, JEFFERSON” banner hung across the fireplace. Margo assured the group that Jefferson would arrive shortly—getting into prison was easy, but getting out took a little longer.
Winter heard it first, running to the window to peek out and then catching a glimpse of the car that pulled into the driveway.
“They’re here!” Winter shouted, backing away from the window and falling in line with the other well-wishers.
Margo was a ball of nerves, her fists scrunched up as her excitement mounted.
“ Sshhhh ,” Margo hissed at the crowd so they would lower their voices and not spoil the surprise. It seemed so strange, hearing the knock on the door, but Margo moved posthaste, her smile almost larger than her face.
The moment of truth. Margo pulled open the door, and there stood her man, Jefferson Myles, the one she had promised to love, cherish, and obey until death they did part. Stacy Greer stood next to him, happy for this moment, as did the twenty or so well-wishers who waited patiently to give hugs and say their welcome. Jefferson looked worn and had lost weight, but hishealthy smile let everyone know that he was eager for the moment that had arrived. He was aided by a walker—a reminder of the car crash five years ago that had put him in a wheelchair—but rigorous therapy and the desire to walk again wrought the miracle Margo saw before her. Margo went to Jefferson and kissed him and then held him as he did her. Stacy closed the door behind them.
“Welcome home!” the anxious crowd shouted, then clapped for what seemed like forever.
Hugs, kisses, and even tears were passed around, each one thankful for the return of their brother. Margo was overcome as she saw Winter and Winston embrace their dad, accepting him back where he belonged, knowing that he had paid the price for his mistakes.
Jefferson held Margo around the waist as the well-wishers continued to
“You can drop me off at Macy’s. It might be too early, but I can walk around until it opens.”
“You may also want to go to Greenwich Village or SoHo, if Macy’s doesn’t pan out. You can get there by subway.”
Angelica thanked Ari and looked straight ahead. She glanced his way again.
“Thank you again, Ari. I know I’ve been distant this morning, but I have a lot on my mind. Getting a job has consumed a lot ofmy mental energy. I don’t want to inconvenience you any longer than I have to.”
“You’re not inconveniencing me,” Ari said. “In fact, it’s nice to have a warm face to talk to in the evenings.”
Angelica twitched her mouth that settled into a smile. She enjoyed Ari’s attention, and he was a good-looking man with a good-looking body. There was no room for a man in her life at this time, although she momentarily thought about Malik and the kiss she placed on his lips. Ari would always be a special friend, an angel in her time of distress, nothing more and nothing less.
“We’re here,” Ari said, taking Angelica from her thoughts. “What time would you like to be picked up?”
Angelica had not given any thought to being displaced while Ari was at work. He did not offer her a key to his house and she was not going to ask for one. That would make life simple because she had no plans to stay at Ari’s for long.
“Give me your number,” Angelica said. “I’ll call you and we can work it out.”
“All right.” Ari wrote his cell number on the back of a card and handed it to Angelica. He smiled at her and Angelica jumped out.
She breathed in the air and looked around her, trying to decide which way to go. Macy’s looked threatening, but she was going to march in there and complete an application. She was going to become a working girl and brave all the elements of a New York City life.
18
D rapes were pulled back as the restless and impatient group began to peek out the window and pace the room, waiting for the arrival of the honoree. A large “WELCOME HOME, JEFFERSON” banner hung across the fireplace. Margo assured the group that Jefferson would arrive shortly—getting into prison was easy, but getting out took a little longer.
Winter heard it first, running to the window to peek out and then catching a glimpse of the car that pulled into the driveway.
“They’re here!” Winter shouted, backing away from the window and falling in line with the other well-wishers.
Margo was a ball of nerves, her fists scrunched up as her excitement mounted.
“ Sshhhh ,” Margo hissed at the crowd so they would lower their voices and not spoil the surprise. It seemed so strange, hearing the knock on the door, but Margo moved posthaste, her smile almost larger than her face.
The moment of truth. Margo pulled open the door, and there stood her man, Jefferson Myles, the one she had promised to love, cherish, and obey until death they did part. Stacy Greer stood next to him, happy for this moment, as did the twenty or so well-wishers who waited patiently to give hugs and say their welcome. Jefferson looked worn and had lost weight, but hishealthy smile let everyone know that he was eager for the moment that had arrived. He was aided by a walker—a reminder of the car crash five years ago that had put him in a wheelchair—but rigorous therapy and the desire to walk again wrought the miracle Margo saw before her. Margo went to Jefferson and kissed him and then held him as he did her. Stacy closed the door behind them.
“Welcome home!” the anxious crowd shouted, then clapped for what seemed like forever.
Hugs, kisses, and even tears were passed around, each one thankful for the return of their brother. Margo was overcome as she saw Winter and Winston embrace their dad, accepting him back where he belonged, knowing that he had paid the price for his mistakes.
Jefferson held Margo around the waist as the well-wishers continued to
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