Georgia On My Mind by Brenda Stokes Lee Page A

with for the past ten years.” He said as he pulled his beautiful fiancé in his arms and sampled her lips.
    “I understand your pain, but that's what happens when you try to teach a GHETTO bird to fly.”
    “I'm so lucky to have a woman like you on my arm.  I can't wait until we get married.”
    “Married?  I don't see a ring on this finger.  Do you?” Mercedes quickly cuts him off.
    “Mercedes you saw the ring.  You know I have a ring for you.”
    “I hope you’re not talking about that ring you proposed to me with. You remember… The one that your ex-girlfriend said was the ring she picked out… Yeah! You know the one I’m talking about. I can tell by the grimace on your face you know the ring I’m talking about.”
    “That ring cost a lot of damn money! Peaches has the ring! I know she does… As soon as I…”
    “Are you kidding me? I don’t want that ring! Let her have it and get me another one! Now, I told my parents that my one of a kind ring was at the jeweler being sized to buy you more time, but we both know the truth. So, I suggest you stop trying to get that gaudy ring from that plus size heifer and buy me a new one, before they discover the truth!” Mercedes holds up her left hand and waves it in Charles face. “Until there’s a ring on this finger, I don’t even want to hear you say the M word to me!”
    “Mercedes, that was a really nice ring. It cost me a hell of a lot of money.”
    “I don’t care! It might be a nice ring for a Peach, but certainly not for a Mercedes.  Both of you have horrible taste! In fact, I’ve just decided that I want to pick out my own ring.  I can't believe you bought that bullshit for me!”
    “Look, I'm sorry baby. You are right. We'll go ring shopping tomorrow.”
    “We'd better. I’m not in the habit of lying to my parents and I’m surely going to start lying to them for you.” Mercedes pouted.
    “I’ll take you the jeweler and you can have any ring you want. Okay?”
    Mercedes smiled as she realized she’d gotten her way. “Okay, but don’t think that I’m not going to keep allowing you to take my kindness for weakness.”
    “Speaking of kindness… Do you think I can move out of the hotel and move in with you?”
    “Oh no, no, no, no no! No! Hell no! That is not going to happen. My condo is too small for two people. Evict Plum and move back in your own house!”
    “Peaches, her name’s Peaches… And I can’t because that’s her house. She brought it after she started her design business.”
    “I don’t give a damn what her name is. Nor do I care whose name the deed to your damn house is in. All I know is that you cannot move in with me. We've already discussed this, Charles.  Besides, I need a husband not a roomy.  So, I suggest you start looking for a house, because you can't live with me.” Mercedes snapped.
    “Baby, the hotel is expensive.  It'll only be for a little while until we find a nice house. Please, just for a week or two… I promise! Okay?”
    “Yeah, I'm sure you conned Pomegranate into believing some nonsense just like that…  But I'm not having it!” She said as she discreetly wrestled her way out of his arms.
    “Peaches… Her name is Peaches like the fruit. Anyway, Mercedes you know I'd never do that to you. Why would you even think something like that?” Charles assured her as he pulled her back to him.
    “Charles, I know you won’t, because I'm not going to let you.  In the infamous words of Beyoncé Knowles, "If you like it you'd better put a ring on it.” Mercedes holds up her left hand and shakes her narrow hips as if she were dancing in the Beyoncé video.
    Charles laughed, “I see my snow bunny got a little soul in her rump!”
    “Just because I’m a white girl, it doesn’t mean I can’t dance,” Mercedes snickered. “But… It also does not mean that I’m a damn fool! You were with Pear for over ten years and never bought her a house or a friendship ring.”
    “Peaches! Baby her