Chapter 41

Sylvia Blass took her last breath at 10 am this morning.

Her breathing had become labored during the night. She'd become restless and confused. She had hallucinations of her mother and cried out several times during the night. Her nurse had made her as comfortable as possible. There was no family to call or friends to notify. She was alone. The rattle in her lungs had started the night before. She was having a hard time swallowing. Her breathing had become crackling and made a wet noise with every rise and fall of her chest.

The nurse sat beside her, watching her breath slower and slower until her chest fell for the last time. She checked her watch and wrote down the time. She carefully covered her face with a sheet and left the room.

Sylvia Blass was dead.

The next day, Stanley Roberts walked into the offices of You & Me. He and Sylvia had signed the deal just prior to her passing. He told her he'd meet her terms and price. He was to take over immediately after she died.

He walked up to the receptionist and ask to speak with Sharon, The receptionist smiled widely at him. She buzzed Sharon and was given directions to show Stanley to her office.

Sharon stood as he entered her office. She was surprised at how good looking he was in person. She shook his hand and asked him to sit down.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Roberts?" she said.

"Well, it's more what I can do for you, Mrs. Eckerson." "Please, call me Sharon."

"Only if you call me Stanley," he said.

"Okay, Stanley, what can you do for me?" she asked.

"Well, first of all, I really like the latest article of You & Me. It was good, probably the best one

yet. I'm told it was mainly because of you."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"I think readers would like a magazine with less fluff and more real-life stuff. Maybe learn about what's going on in the world. What do you think?" "I would agree," she said."Good. As of yesterday, I became sole owner of You & Me magazine. Part of my terms were to keep you on as editor-in-chief."

"What?" she said, completely surprised.

"Yes. Sylvia sold it to me. Her terms were to keep you on as editor, hire Tallulah Brock, and change the name," he said. "Now, I know she's freelancing, but we need her full-time. Make her a senior writer or whatever."

"I...I…I don't know what to say. Sylvia never said anything to me," Sharon said.

"Well, say yes, that you'll stay. I was looking at the payroll. You, Sharon, are due for a raise. What you did here was good. Can you do it again?" "Well, yes, I just never…" Her voice trailed off.

"Well, I want us to work together. I'm no editor, Sharon, and I know you're talented. Do you want to be a part of a magazine that tells real stories? Stories they may never get told unless we tell them?"

"Yes, I do," she said.

"Then stay. It's no longer You & Me. It's All of Us." Sharon looked confused.

"The name of the magazine. I changed the name to All of Us. What do you think?"

She smiled. "I like it."

"Great, so get your stuff, we're going to lunch. I'd like to get to know my new editor and pick your brain about ideas."

He smiled at her and stood up, then held out his hand and helped her up.

"Stanley, there's one thing you should know. I'm pregnant. I'd planned on resigning after this issue. I know Sylvia never would have understood me wanting to have kids."

"You're pregnant?" he said. "That's great. He or she will really get to know Uncle Stanley." She smiled at him and grabbed her purse and coat. He smiled back at her.

"Now, what do you feel like eating?"

Tallulah, Chloe, and Zoe sat in the back of Zoe's restaurant. Zoe had decided to close the restaurant for the day. She'd been working long days ever since the open mic. Her customer volume had tripled, and she needed to hire more staff if she was to keep up with the growth.

The three of them sat at the table. Chloe corked a bottle of wine and was pouring it into the three glasses sitting on the table.

"So Finesse, any plans with Marc?" Chloe asked.

Tallulah smiled. "Maybe. What's up with Stanley? The last time I saw you two, you were leaving together."

Chloe smiled. "Well, I would say a good girl doesn't kiss and tell, but I ain't no girl. I'm a woman."

They all laughed

"Seriously, I like him. He isn't like anyone I've ever met." "Are you seeing him?" Zoe asked.

Chloe smiled and nodded. "We're taking it slow, but I like how things are going now."

Tallulah smiled. "I'm happy for you. And Michael and Zoe, finally."

"Cheers to motherfuckin' that, and amen," Chloe said. They all lifted their glasses and drank.

"So T, what you gonna do for a job?" Zoe asked.

"Well, I still freelance. Lily's article is getting a lot of buzz. Owen Katz called me and asked me to help him write a book. Is that not crazy? Me writing a book?"

"What's crazy about it?" Zoe said. "You're talented."

"You know your poem, 'You Sound White'? I really liked it, Tallulah. I could relate. I think a lot of Black women could relate," Zoe said. "I love how you write. I love how you sound." "Here here," added Chloe. "Finesse my bitch."

"Thank you. Oh, I love you bitches!" she said.

"You know, for a long time, I never felt like I really fit in anywhere. I wrote that one day in high school. This white girl told me I was trying to sound white. I wasn't; I was just being me. Then I started seeing a trend. I wasn't the only one. You two have had your experiences, even Michael. So, when you asked me to host, I found it and decided to read it."

"You should publish your stuff, T. I mean Finesse. Seriously," Chloe said. "Zoe cooks, I'm a fashion and PR genius, and you…well, you write. I could be your literary agent!" Chloe's voice went up in tone from her excitement.

"Well, Chloe, let's talk about it. Set up a lunch," Tallulah said jokingly.

"I'm serious, Finesse. I'm going to set up a lunch for next week."

Tallulah stared at her. "You're serious?"

"Yes, my boyfriend owns a publishing house." She winked at her.

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