I remained with my back to her, not acknowledging her presence.

“Montana, you have every right in the world to never talk to me again. But I wanted to at least try to explain.”

“Get on with it, Gail, you’re wasting precious time,” Sam said, annoyed.

“Anyway, Curtis met me in Baltimore on his way from New York to Atlanta and we flew in together. We prayed before we took off. Then we prayed after we touched ground. We got to his house and prayed when we walked in the door, and again before we left out. We prayed before service, in the middle of praise service, before the offering, after the offering, before the sermon, and after the sermon. After the service ended, the missionaries took me to a back room, closed the door, and we prayed some more. Now, you know me, I’m used to spending a lot of time on my knees, but they took being on your knees to a whole ’nother level. Anyway, while I was on my knees praying I realized how wrong I had been for going after Curtis. If he was off-limits to you, then he should have been off-limits to me too. No man in the world, I don’t care how perfect he may be, is worth losing my best friend over. ’Cause girl, well…hell, you’re all I got, really. So, after we prayed at least three more times, I lotioned my knees and said good-bye. I hopped a plane to Baltimore, rushed straight to the engagement party, and they told me what happened. Then I came straight over here. Girl, I’m sorry, and I know I may not have much tact, or sense, or—”

“Class!” Sam added.

“I may not have any class either, but I got love. I got love for you, even if me wanting to have somebody so bad temporarily clouded my judgment. I love you, girl. And I’m your friend. And I’m sorry.” Gail broke down with emotion. “Montana, girl, please don’t make me stand here like this. I can’t take it anymore. Can I have a hug?” Feeling her sincerity, I got up, walked over to her, and we hugged. “I love you, girl.”

“I love you too, Gail.”

Watching us, Sam started swelling with emotion himself, until he could no longer take it. “Awwwwww, don’t y’all start crying! You’re gonna get me started again and I already cried once. Aww, see that? Now I’m crying again. Group cry! Group cry!” Together we embraced as our crying quickly turned to laughing.

“Look at us. Back together again. Just like we started.”

“I know. I guess misery really does love company,” Gail offered.

“Honey, speak for yourself, I am not miserable,” Sam proclaimed.

“Of course you’re miserable, Sam! You’re a black man who dresses up pretending to be a white woman.”