Br’er and Ray came into the apartment, talking and laughing boisterously. Mazie looked up from her crossword puzzle. Mickey jumped off the couch and ran to Ray, who picked him up and nuzzled the little dog’s nose with his own.
“Well, what’s going on?” Mazie asked as she got up to greet the men. “Br’er left looking like it was the end of the world, and now the two of you come back like you’re on top of it.”
“I met Ray’s daughter and Alex,” Br’er said excitedly, coming to give Mazie a hug.
“But you already met them, Christmas Eve when we were tree shopping,” Mazie responded, looking confused.
Ray put Mickey down and joined the hug. “Ah—but this time I introduced him as my boyfriend.” Ray turned to Br’er and kissed him.
“Hallelujah! Thank ya, Jesus,” Mazie declared at the top of her voic
