"Wow!" Maggie says, thinking about it. "I want you to plan my next birthday party." She laughs. "Who will you invite to you mom's party?"

"Let's see." I say, thinking about who mom might want. "You and my sister, our neighbor Mary, my friend Carolyn..."

"And you'll be the only guy?" Maggie looks at me suspiciously.

"Well, we could invite Carolyn's husband." I say. "In case mom has the same black man fantasy that you have?"

"Oh! That would be nice, even if she doesn't." Maggie coos, rubbing her hand on my thigh, as I pull into the parking lot of my dad's office.

Danae is at the reception desk...