Mariana was a short, light-brown-skinned, dark-haired Dominican. Her family had recently immigrated here and settled in Queens. He met her during one of his weekly outings at the jump clubs in Harlem. The way she dressed attracted him. They hit it off instantly. Mariana and Jerome would venture out every Friday night because both of them loved having a good time. They were partners in clubbing. They attended his family’s church in Harlem, and he had introduced her to his relatives. Mariana and Celia were around the same age. Celia met her when she reconnected with Jerome. The two women would occasionally hang out with each other, and Mariana became the replacement company when Rose moved out of the apartment. Mariana had a day job as a waitress, which meant she could not keep an eye on Jerome twenty-four hours a day. She had to work long hours to earn a decent wage. Jerome occasionally had one-night flings with other women, but he established a full relationship with Mariana. Mariana never found out about his side activities because she was busy with her schedule.
