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tossed me an apologetic look over her shoulder, but I read more into her expression than apologies—like a sudden concern that hadn’t been there before the half-naked girl arrived. I understood then that Melba didn’t want this girl to be any part of the mystery surrounding me. So I played along and stepped to her rescue.
    Taking a stride forward, I extended my left hand to the girl, my arm strong and my back straight. “I’m Solomon.”
    Amusement sparkled in her eyes as she lifted her arm and placed her delicate hand in my rough palm. “You don’t say… cousin.”
    Somehow, I knew the gentlemanly thing to do would be to kiss the back of her hand, but for some reason, I thought better of it. Not with Melba glaring on in horror. Instead, I took a moment to savor the soft warmth of her skin on mine. In the few short seconds we connected, I noticed how my tanned hand was darker than the soft brown of hers, and how her fingernails were painted the color of lilacs—a distraction, as a memory of the flower’s scent swept through my mind.
    When Melba cleared her throat, I snapped to my senses and opened my hand, allowing Desiree to retrieve hers. With our connection broken, we both turned toward a concerned Melba.
    “Solomon, this is Desiree, my niece, who’s supposed to be at her apartment right now, not sneaking into my house in the middle of the night, dressed like… like a street girl.”
    Desiree’s blush lips flew open into a gasp. I wondered what a street girl was.
    “So,” Desiree said to Melba while looking at me, “if he’s your cousin, he must be mine, too, since you and Mom were sisters.”
    “Yes. He’s our cousin… Connie’s son.”
    “Oh? I’ve never heard you or Mom mention a cousin named Connie.”
    I had the feeling she wasn’t buying into Melba’s lie.
    “So, Solomon, how long will you be staying in Savannah?”
    I looked at Melba for help.
    Clearly, she didn’t know what to say, so I answered, “I have no set plans.”
    “Really? A drifter.”
    “What he means is, he is out of work and came to help me with the yard and the gardens.”
    “Oh, how nice.”
    As if Melba sensed the sudden awkwardness she said, “Solomon was just going to bed, so why don’t we give him some privacy and go upstairs. I’ll make you up a room, then you can tell me why you’re really here.”
    When Desiree grabbed her bags and turned toward the door, something kicked inside me. I stepped toward her and took the handles from her. “Allow me to carry those for you.”
    “Why thank you, Solomon… cousin.” She seemed to mock me, but in a sweet manner.
    “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Desiree.” My voice suddenly grew deeper, more refined.
    “So formal,” I heard her whisper to Melba as they walked ahead of me up the outside steps to Melba’s. She glanced over her shoulder, tossing me a flirtatious smile. “He’s so tall, and straight, and did you see those muscles?”
    “Hush, child. He has ears as well as muscles.”
    The way Desiree spoke of me instilled desires in me I didn’t remember feeling before. I grinned to myself at the compliment I wasn’t meant to hear.
    Once I had Desiree’s bags deposited at the top of the stairs, Melba turned and said goodnight to me. I got the hint and climbed back down to my new apartment. Last I checked, Excalibur was inside the shed on my old bed. I wondered if he would miss me.
    Weariness of the day settled upon me, so I went into the washroom to brush my teeth. Melba said brushing morning and night was a good habit to get into, especially since I had a good set of chompers, according to her. And I liked the coolness that lingered in my mouth from the toothpaste.

    Comfort embraced my healing body as I lay naked on top of the covers on my new bed. Above me, the ceiling fan whirled, invisibly pulling in cooler air and blowing it across my skin, making the balmy night tolerable.
    Almost immediately, Desiree’s image soared into my brain, replacing the