Page 8 of The Dating Prohibition
“Yeah, briefly. Kenny mentioned that she wanted to put her place in a landmark building and wanted some advice onwhat might make the most sense, and since I’m researching preservation sites now, we figured we’d put our heads together to kill two birds with one stone.”
Shonda nodded thoughtfully like it made sense, but Big Bro didn’t look convinced.
“Interesting.” Logan eyed his sister suspiciously.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re acting like I asked him for a kidney.” Kendra threw her hands up in the air asthe front door opened.
“We’re here!” Lani exclaimed. She’d gone to pick up her mom, Kendra’s Auntie Mack, from the airport, and on the way they’dpicked up Kendra’s parents and Auntie Al and her husband, Uncle Ronnie.
The siblings came from behind the bar to join Shonda and BJ in hugging and welcoming the new arrivals.
“Hey, Momma, Daddy.” Kendra squeezed her parents. “I’m so glad we get to spend some time together during this launch. Hi,Auntie Al, Uncle Ronnie.”
“Kendra,” Auntie Al sniffed. She was the grumpiest of the three sisters. Her go-to expression was one of disdain. Her husbandwas much more cheerful.
“Keke! Good to see you! Come here,” Ronnie said and enveloped her in a warm embrace.
Sheesh, opposites really do attract. After extracting herself, Kendra moved her attention to Momma’s youngest sister, Makayla. “Hi, Auntie Mack! It’s so goodto see you.” She squeezed her favorite aunt. “How was your flight?”
“Hello, my love, it was uneventful,” Auntie Mack responded, her hand moving to fluff her short, golden-brown Deva cut. “Wehave so much catching up to do!”
Momma and her sisters had been labeled true tomboys growing up—climbing trees, fending off bullies, avoiding the Mary Janes and lacy white socks that Kendra’s grandmotherwanted so badly for them to love. Kendra’s grandfather and his brothers had taught the girls how to scrap and protect themselves, and over time, that protection extended to any kid on their block. Reg, Al, and Mack were still a force to be reckoned with whenever the feisty trio reunited.
“We do! How long are you in town?”
“Oh, just a few days, but I’d love to have some company down in Charleston,” she hinted, a sparkle in her eye.
Kendra nodded, grimacing slightly. “I’d love to, but I’m actually pursuing a new business venture, so I probably won’t beable to travel right away.”
“Oh?”
Beside Auntie Mack, Uncle Ronnie perked up, his bushy eyebrows waggling. “I’m always looking for new investments. Why don’tyou tell us about it?”
Perfectly timed.Kendra’s heart skipped a beat. She’d planned to solicit her uncle for support, but having him broach the subject was evenbetter. “Really?”
“No time like the present. Everyone’s here, save some of your cousins. Why don’t we convene a family meeting?”
Kendra hesitated.I don’t have my proposal here to show him the research I’ve done.“You know what, maybe we should wait.”
“Nonsense, we want to hear about it!” Daddy squeezed her shoulder.
No matter who was present, a “family meeting” meant everyone sat down for the discussion at hand—close friends, the parentsand grandparents, any children present, no matter their age. And it wasn’t limited to one side of the family or the other—anyoneeven loosely associated to Momma or Daddy had attended at least one of their roundtables.
Once Uncle Ronnie had gotten everyone’s attention, the family pushed together a couple of tables so that everyone fit. Shonda had the kitchen prepare some quick bites, while Kendraand Logan poured wine and made cocktails. Logan, Shonda, Kendra, and Lani sat on one long side of the table. The parents and aunts were on the other, with Uncle Ronnie and BJ at the head and foot of the table. With so many strong opinions, BJ often played the role of family mediator.
The family settled in and Kendra ran through her plan for her business. Auntie Mack nodded along eagerly as Auntie Al staredat Kendra imperviously. No one dared play her at poker—the woman had no tells. Momma and Daddy listened intently, looks ofpride on their faces. Uncle Ronnie bobbed his head sporadically, his kindhearted smile encouraging her to continue.
Shonda pushed her glass over toward Lani. “She made this as one of her signature cocktails. Bourbon old-fashioned with a charredorange peel and a s’more with a homemade orange marshmallow.”
“Ooo.” Lani lifted the other half of the s’more to take a bite and then sipped the old-fashioned, her eyes bugging out ofher head. “Kendra, you’re gonna have to make a couple more of these.”
“Right?” Shonda laughed. “We might have to do a preopening toast before we let folks come in tomorrow.”
Logan watched his wife with amusement. “And pour all of our good liquor? Everyone needs to start a tab when they clock intomorrow,” he teased.
Kendra pointed to the cocktail. “While I was traveling abroad, I took some mixology classes and met with some sommeliers. I’ve been putting a lot of thought and effort into getting everything just right. At home, I’ve got a full proposal with figures and sample menus that I can show you. I’m fusing different parts of our cultural cuisine into the courses—Creole, soul food, Thai, Filipino. All of those read as comfort foods to me, and I want to honor the ingredients of thosecuisines with these dinners. Similarly, I want to bring different ideas together when it comes to cocktails––hence the s’mores old-fashioned, though I’ve got some others I’d love for y’all to try.
“And that’s why the dining experience will be special and the seating is limited—it’s like a pop-up restaurant that has abrick-and-mortar location hidden behind a modern take on a Prohibition lounge.” Kendra bit her lip as she glanced around thetable. Shonda gave her a thumbs-up, and Lani mouthed to her that she’d done a good job. Her parents beamed, as did AuntieMack. Auntie Al was stoic as ever. BJ winked at her and offered her a quick nod of encouragement.
