Later while searching the medicine cabinet, Keisha leaned against the sink and peered at her reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t believe that she turns thirty years old tomorrow. Although she looked like she was in her late teens or early twenties, recently she began to feel more like her age. Wrapping the thin silk bathrobe around her body, she eased out of the bathroom into the hallway of her home at Rochester Manor, a condominium she purchased after Del died. She stopped and looked at a framed picture of her, Scott, and 4Real, a hardcore rap artist M.E.C represented on the hallway wall. Keisha shook her head and sauntered down the long hallway into the dressing room. She noticed that Ebony was not in there and headed back into the hallway calling for her after she briefly surveyed the large room.

‘Ebony, where are you?’

Ebony Defraine worked as Keisha’s live-in personal assistant for four years. Del killed her husband, Melvin, because of a large gambling and drug debt. To recover the losses from the unpaid debt, Del forced her to walk the streets of New Orleans. However, after Del died Keisha fired most of the prostitutes that worked the streets because they were junkies or had some serious mental flaws.

‘I’m in the laundry room. I’ll be there in a minute.’

Ebony was one of the few that weren’t too messed up. After being taken off the streets, she entered a drug rehabilitation center. Given a clean bill of health by the doctors and psychologists, she restarted college and graduated from Jackson State Community College with an associate degree in liberal arts. Ebony showed great promise, so, C.S. Deuces inducted her and hired her as Keisha’s personal assistant because she was always where Keisha needed her to be when she needed help.

The phone rung and Keisha answered it. Moments after receiving the call from the nursing home, the effect of the news sunk in and the air rushed out of her lungs. Keisha clinched her stomach, dropped to her knees and cried out.

‘I’m never going to see my mom again. I’ll never talk to her or do any of things we had planned. Oh, my God, mom is dead.’

Ebony rushed from the laundry room and wrapped her arms around her to comfort her.

‘Shh, it’ll be all right, Keisha, I’m here.’

‘My mom oh, God, not my mom.’

Keisha’s world imploded onto her chest as she crouched on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably. She wished someone would tell her it was a mistake. Ebony wrapped her arms around Keisha’s waist as she cried on her shoulders for hours. It felt good and Ebony didn’t mind.

“Keisha, my mom said to me once “If we love someone, then that love that doesn't die just because that person dies. It continues in our heart." You’ll always have her love right there.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll always remember that.”

After she dried her tears, Keisha head towards the bathroom trailed by Ebony.

“I still need to shave my legs. Where is my razor? It is not in the bathroom.”

“Let me do that for you, Keisha. You know I don’t mind. Besides, you always nick your skin and get mad. “

As they returned to the hallway, Ebony quickly laid down the clothes she folded a side table and followed Keisha into the dressing room. Taking her gently by the arm, she led Keisha to the chair by the mirrored dresser. Carefully sitting in the chair, she opened her legs while Ebony retrieved a stool from the hallway closet and prepared to shave them. She tenderly lifted Keisha leg, placed it over her left arm, and massaged the foam shaving cream onto the leg with her hand.

“Yesterday, I bought an attractive linen business suit for you to wear. I placed it on your bed for you. I also picked up Scott’s present from Ticketmaster’s.”

“Thanks; you are so special, sweetheart. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

After shaving her legs and trimming her pubic hair, they retreated to the bedroom where she assisted Keisha dressing. She enjoyed the way that Ebony fussed over her as she helped her slip into the purple and gold trimmed outfit. Twirling in front of the full-length mirrors, Keisha liked that it was custom fitted to her measurements. Holding up two pairs of matching shoes that she also purchased, Ebony inquired.

“Which shoes do you want to wear; the slip-on flats or the lace-up pumps?”

Keisha pointed to the pumps, sat down on the bed, and watched silently as her assistant slipped them on her feet. After eating breakfast, they walked to the waiting limousine for the trip to the downtown office. Today was a busy day. She had court at ten thirty; then at two p.m., she was scheduled to attend a luncheon for some worthless cause that she cared nothing about. Later that day, she was scheduled to attend two dinner parties, a political fundraiser, and later that night, go over to the Marriot Hotel to meet with 4Real.

Ten o'clock in that evening, Keisha and Ebony arrived at the Marriot on Canal Street and checked to see if 4Real arrived. After calling his room, the two women headed for the restaurant. Moments later, Kendrick Daniels, also known as 4Real, walked into the restaurant and sauntered to Keisha’s table. The six feet seven inch tall young man was dressed in a tailor-fitted dark blue Armani pin-stripped suit with a light blue shirt and matching poke dotted ties. Before taking a sit, he kissed Keisha on the cheek and presented her a bouquet of flowers. Ebony was the first to speak.

“Nice suit, 4Real, it makes you look different from your picture at the office.”

“Thank you; but I’m only 4Real on stage. Out here just call me Kendrick.”

He flamboyantly kissed Ebony’s hand and motioned for the waiter to bring some drinks. He took a quick look at her breast trying to escape the tight blouse as she held tightly to his hand and continued to flirt with him. Clearing her throat, Keisha interrupted.

“Thanks for the beautiful roses, Kendrick. Pink is my favorite color.”

“That’s no problem. Beautiful flowers for a gorgeous lady.”

“Thank you, Kendrick that is such a sweet compliment. Ahh, we need to go over details of your new contract and the book deal.”

“I looked at it and gave it to my lawyer before I left Cleveland last night. He said the contract was in order, Keisha, so I’m with you on this. I’ll sign it and you should have it by the end of the week. But I thought we agreed I could come out on this tour.”

“Well, Kendrick honey, we have to think about your image. Look, you are a gangster rapper. You rap about gangbangers and the life they live. There’s just not that many known gay gangsters. And if they are, they’re being dissed on everyone’s hit record. Look, I talked it over with our image consultants like you asked and they looked at it from every angle, ran the numbers, and we decided it’s too risky.”

“I am thinking about my image, Keisha. How am I going to be 4Real if I’m living a lie?”

“I know how you feel; Kendrick but you’re a Rapper.”

“Keisha, girl no you don’t; you don’t know how it feels not to be able to take the one you love to see you receive the biggest award in your life. It hurt, Ebony, it hurts.”

“Look I might not know how it feel to be gay but think about this for a minute, Kendrick. You have a tough hardcore image, a loyal following to think about, and a new album set to go platinum in a few weeks. Honey, it’s just too risky right now. Besides, what’s more important to you, being an openly gay rapper, or making big money in this business so you can live as an openly gay private citizen? We don’t think it will work.”

The table stayed silent for a moment as the young male waiter brought the drinks. After he left, Kendrick continued the conversation.

“Look, Keisha, like I said I need to get this curse off my back because it’s tearing me apart. I’ll be coming out of the closet before my concert tour in 2005.”

After finishing his Vodka, Kendrick kissed each of the women on the cheek and headed for the exit.

After returning from the meeting, Keisha dressed in a pink tank top and panties, pulled the Master Card statement from the file folder, and reread the highlighted charges for two plane tickets and hotel room reservations in Cambridge. Leaving her home office, she strolled down the long hallway. Opening the closed wooden door to the bedroom, she stepped inside the room. The moment she entered, Ebony stood from the couch and approached her. Ebony’s eyes traveled over Keisha.

“Keisha, how do you feel about us?”

“You’re very special to me. Why you ask?”

“Because all that stuff you said at the restaurant, do… do you really feel that way.”

“Baby, I have to consider the business. Honey, it’s tough out there. One mistake and 4Real’s career will be over before the pictures hits the tabloids.”

“But, Keisha, you know you saved my life when you killed Del. I think… no, I know I love working for you. Do you feel the same way about me?”

“I can’t imagine ever being without you, you know this Ebony. Why are you acting…?”

“I love you and I need to know how you feel about me, Keisha.”

Automatically, Ebony leaned toward Keisha and stroked her hair as her breathe drifted over her face. When the young woman’s hand touched against Keisha’s left thigh, she shivered as if she felt an electric current running up her spine. When Ebony kissed her on the lips, the excited muscles of Keisha’s vagina began to pulsate causing her legs to tremble. She leaned against the edge of the open door to regain her composure as Ebony looked into her half-closed eyes.

“Are you okay? I don't want to do anything that you don’t want me to do, Keisha. We can stop if you want.”

Laboring to talk because of the excitement now coursing throughout her body, Keisha answered.

“Nah, nah, I’m all right. I...I just never done anything like this.”

Ebony pressed her soft lips against Keisha while stroking her hair and continued kissing down her neck.

“Keisha, you are so beautiful.”

“Oh, thank you, sweetheart; so are you.”

As waves of excitement overwhelmed her senses, Keisha felt unsteady on her feet. She held Ebony’s hand tightly as she felt Ebony’s her tiny tongue inside her ear.

“Oh, oh, that feels so good girl, don’t stop.”

Taking Keisha’s face into her hand, the young woman placed another kiss on her lips. Keisha started to breathe rapidly as Ebony’s tongue darted over her neck and shoulders. The woman ran her fingers along Keisha’s shoulders. The thin strap to Keisha’s tank top slid down as she kissed her flesh leaving trails of moisture on her skin. Ebony’s hand moved back to her face. The women kissed. Their tongues probed inside each other’s mouth. Keisha’s breathed heavily when Ebony pulled away.

“Please don’t stop, not now.”

She took Keisha’s hand then led her to the loveseat and again they kissed. Each kiss became more passionate as the women laid on the loveseat engrossed in their desires for each other. Ebony trembled as she reached under Keisha’s shirt and cupped her hand over one of Keisha’s breasts then lifted tank top over Keisha’s head.

“Kiss them Ebony, please!”

Obediently, Ebony cupped her hands under Keisha’s breasts, lifted them, and kissed each erect nipple. The tip of her tongue flicked it. She sucked one of her nipples inside her mouth. Keisha became moist as Ebony groaned with excitement and anticipation.

Ebony kissed her while she removed Keisha’s panties and explored her. Next, she knelt on the carpet and pushed Keisha’s knees apart. Ebony licked her, exposed her swollen clit with her fingertips, and ran her tongue over the pinkish folds of her opening. Keisha heard Ebony groan. Not wanting to be left out, Ebony began to play with herself, and delved her fingers into her vagina as a powerful orgasm rushed through Keisha.

Later, Keisha moved from the loveseat to the roomier bed, and explored Ebony’s body. The women’s moans grew louder as Keisha inserted two of fingers inside Ebony.

“You’re soaking wet.”

Keisha’s fingers worked inside her lover’s steamy vagina. They pushed in harder and deeper then back and forward. Soon, the young woman juices covered Keisha’s fingers.

“Let me taste you.”

Keisha removed her fingers and inserted her tongue deep inside Ebony.

“Ahh, ahh, yeah that’s it. I’m yours, Keisha. I’m yours forever, I promise.”

Ebony parted her legs as Keisha licked her. Keisha groaned from the erotic pleasure she experienced. She took her hands and massaged Ebony’s small nipples. Ebony responded. She rushed her pelvis onto Keisha’s tongue. The young woman’s muscles clenched at Keisha’s tongue. Seconds later, Ebony’s nails dig into Keisha shoulders.

“Ahh, ahh, yes, oooh shit yes, harder, harder, I’m coming.”

Ebony’s body convulsed harder than she ever had before. Keisha slithered up Ebony’s quivering body, pulled the negligee off, and ran her hands across Ebony’s face. She kissed her breasts. Her fingers lingered behind her ear and gently massaged. They kissed, and shared each other’s tongues, again.

Moments later, Keisha sat on the side of the bed, picked up the paper credit card invoice from the floor, stared at it, and reflected on the events that just happen, her mother’s death and her confusing emotions. She loved being with a man, but Ebony allowed her to feel somehow more like a woman. Ebony was always there for her, knew how to make her feel good, and did things a lot better than any man could. However, a woman could never replace the feeling of having a man inside of her. Keisha looked down and silently thought to herself for a moment.

“Shit, what’s happening to me? Am I a lesbian?”

Seconds later, Keisha handed Ebony the statement, walked over to the loveseat beside the bed, and sat down.

“Uh, I’m sorry to put you to work this late at night, but there is a strange charge on December's credit card statements. It is for two airplane tickets and a hotel room at the Marriot. Can you find out who made this charge and why?”

Without saying a word, Ebony stood up, moved to computer desk, and searched through the online statements from the credit card company. The young lady retrieving the information Keisha wanted. She returned to the loveseat, sat down, and folded her legs up on the couch then handed Keisha the paper she printed from the computer. Keisha took the paper and viewed at the charges briefly and handed it back to her.

“Keisha, don’t worry about it right now, sweetheart, it can wait until tomorrow, okay. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you. I never dreamed I would be working in the entertainment industry but here I am. I’m so excited. I met for 4Real. He is my favorite rapper and that boy is so fine. I wonder why he’s gay, though. Girl, if you don’t want him gay, shit, I’ll gladly volunteer myself to go over there and straighten his ass out.”

They looked at each other, held hands, and giggled. Keisha didn’t like lying to people but she didn’t want the public or the press to know the whole truth about 4Real right now.

“Well, from what he’s saying he’s so wrapped up performing and traveling that he doesn’t have time for a personal life. Damn, I didn’t realize it was that late. We’ve got to go to bed because we have a long day tomorrow.”

“You know that manager of the Canal Street convenience store, Stephen Mitchell, is gay. When he brought in his paperwork last month, he said he didn’t have a boyfriend because his guy didn’t pass the security check. Maybe I can talk to him and hook them up. Problem solved.”

“Yeah, that would be perfect but why don’t you work on that tomorrow?”

Ebony grabbed her hand again, placed it against her chest, and peered longingly into Keisha’s eyes.

“But Keisha, do you?”

“Yeah, I want you to set them up, but let’s go to bed, Ebony.”

“No not that, girl; do you love me? Do you really love me?”

“Girl, of course I do.”

“I was wondering because of what you said tonight.”

“Baby, I sorry I don’t tell you how I feel. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just hard for me to express how I feel about people sometimes.”

“Well, do you love me, Keisha? I just want to hear you say it.”

The two women sat in silence for a moment. Keisha slowly leaned towards Ebony and whispered in her ear.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes, I do, Keisha.”

“Yes, Ebony, I care very deeply for you and yes I do love you. Look, we are good together and I’m glad. Here the thing, I also like men. One might come over to spend some time with me every now and then. Still, I don’t want you with anyone but me, okay.”

Ebony kissed Keisha’s lips, stood up, pulled on her negligee, and shifted it over her body. She bent to retrieve comforter from the floor and the sheer fabric slid up then exposed her bare bottom. Keisha smiled as she took in the site. She grabbed her hips and slipped the tips of her fingers through the lips. Ebony shivered with pleasure as her bare skin became covered with goose bumps. She stayed bent over for a moment and enjoyed the feeling of Keisha’s fingers. They darted in and out of her and toyed with her clit

“Oh, girl, that feels good. Yes, Keisha, I’m all yours, just for you. Oooh girl, I’ll gladly do whatever you want me too, just for you.”

Keisha stood up and adjusted her tight peach panties and tank top shirt, kissed Ebony, and they walked down the hall toward her bedroom.

As soon as Pauli received the call, he brought the body to Miss Evelyn’s Funeral Home. That weekend, Evelyn Neil assisted Keisha with the event. The funeral was scheduled for 4pm in the afternoon. Around three, her mother’s pastor came to visit the family and spent around a half of an hour listening to how Keisha wanted her mother’s life celebrated.

Keisha walked to the cemetery plot up the hill from entrance. She didn’t expect anyone except for Ebony, Tyrell, Scott, and the funeral director. As she, Scott and Tyrell came over the hill; they were greeted by a long line of vans and cars that flowed into the cemetery. Scott slipped his fingers between hers and squeezed.

“I thought I should invite some of the people from the nursing home spades group.”

The white vans pulled into the assigned spots. The sight was unbelievable as wheel chair after wheel chair came toward the gravesite.

“Momma really touched a lot of people in her life.”