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of attention. “Oh my Lawd, my Lawd! Stop that! Stop that right now!” Joan chided the twenty-something male stripper gyrating in front of her to the beat of the music blaring from a boom box. The only thing the muscle bound exotic dancer wore was a silky, red G-string.
    Nita Jackson shook her head as she stared narrow-eyed at Ava, Summer, and Starr. Of the three, one of them hired the stripper. She hadn’t done such an awful thing as to hire the almost naked, hip-thrusting youngster. And since she had planned and given the bridal shower for Joan, it had to be one of them. Nita was going to have whoever did this act of debauchery fast little tail in a sling! But which one had done it? They would never snitch out the culprit. Shaking her head again, Poor Joan looks like she’s ‘bout to have a heart attack!
    Everyone erupted into laughter as the barely dressed stripper gyrated in Nita’s direction.
    “Boy, don’t you bring your nasty behind over here! Shaking o’va top of me!”
    Rolling his eyes, the buff stripper pulled Karen, who had been sitting next to Nita, to her feet. The younger women in the room hooted and hollered as Karen let her hair down and indulged the stripper.
    Three hours later the only guests left in the ballroom at the Hilton on City Line Avenue were Joan, Nita, Summer, Ava, Starr, and Karen. The women chatted as they pulled down decorations and stacked gifts near the entrance.
    Joan smiled as she stacked the last gift. No longer would she be lonely. She had found love again after so many years, had a family that cared about her and for the first time in years a best friend.
    After being betrayed by Alice and Sam all those years ago, she never trusted anyone, especially women. With Summer coming into her life, came Nita’s friendship. Though the two lived miles apart they constantly talked on the phone and even made time to visit one another at least three times a year since meeting.
    Coming over to Joan, Nita laid her hand on her shoulder. “Did you have a good time?”
    Reaching up to hold the hand on her shoulder, she smiled at her friend. “Yes, thank you for throwing me a bridal shower.” Chuckling she added, “Never thought I’d have one.”
    “Oh, honey, you are so welcome. I knew you and Henry were going to get together after last Christmas. The man kept sniffing around you ever ten minutes.”
    The two women laughed, remembering how Henry shamelessly flirted with Joan.
    “Did you have a good time?”
    “I sure did.” Nita again for the hundredth time threw the trio a scowling gaze. “With the exception of that boy shaking his funky behind all over the place.”
    Chuckling, Joan said, “Tell me ‘bout it. Boy young enough to be my grandchild…but, Lawd knows I sure hope Henry can move like that!”
    Nita gasped, the younger women snickered. “That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!” Ava yelled, grinning with mischief as she pulled a plastic trash bag from a box on the table.
    “Mmm hmm, that’s what I thought.” Nita gave Ava a stern motherly look. “Ought to come over there and whoop your little fast behind.”
    Ava covered her mouth, giggling, she was busted. Summer and Starr tried to tell her weeks ago not to hire a stripper. But of course, Ava being Ava hadn’t listened. Blowing a kiss in Nita’s direction, “I love you, Mommy.”
    Nita couldn’t resist smiling at Ava. She would never admit it to them, but that young, fine thing gyrating had her eager to get home to James. “I love you too, baby.”
    Pulling crape paper from the wall, Starr hadn’t notice Ava coming over to her holding open a trash bag. “Here, you can put that in here.”
    Ava let out a soft sigh. Starr hadn’t had much to say to her after their disagreement a week ago. Tonight was no different. She barely said much of anything. When Karen asked, “What’s up with my sister?” Both Ava and Summer hunched up their shoulders. If Starr hadn’t told her sister about her condition, it