ON May 1, 1980, his fortieth birthday, Sid Lehman takes Pamela Anderson to dinner. They fall in love and their courtship takes up Part One of the book. Part Two introduces Mariah and Abigail Johnson, a half-white, half-black woman who becomes another character in Sid's unfolding drama. The basic story is the love affair between Sid and Mariah, its us and downs, and the memorable depression and healing that take place after it is over. This is a spicy, simmering love affair that it will be difficult to forget. Both for the reader and for Sid.