Page 83 of The Dating Prohibition
Logan set his fork down after a few bites. “Do you want to tell us what the occasion is?”
“Does there have to be an occasion for us all to get together?” Kendra countered.
“No, but I know you and I know there’s a reason tonight.”
Kendra’s shoulders slumped a little. She placed her hands on either side of her plate, steeling herself before making herannouncement. “Okay, fine. Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to be relocating.”
“What?! Where?” Shonda asked. “You just got here. Why would you leave?”
“Yeah, but the business opportunities aren’t moving the way that I wanted them to, and I can’t keep waiting for somethingto happen when I know this isn’t the right market for what I’m trying to do.”
“So, where are you going?” Logan asked, his eyes on his sister. He always had the best poker face, and as he sat there, heobserved her with an unreadable expression.
“I made an offer on a property in Charleston, and it’s already been accepted. So, I will be moving to South Carolina immediately.”
“When you say ‘immediately’ what do you mean?” Lani asked, her disapproval clear in the pinched skin between her brows.”
“Next week.”
Forks clanged on plates as five sets of eyes stared at her.
“That seems a little fast, Keke,” Stanley replied. As quiet as he was, he had been a part of their friend group for years.He and Logan and BJ were especially close, and he was an avid supporter of everything that the family did. He went to BJ’slectures and he helped renovate the space for Logan and Shonda’s restaurant. He was very clearly smitten with Kendra’s cousin.And he’d been supportive of Kendra’s pursuits, but they never got as close as everyone else had with him. “Are you sure aboutthis?” Stanley asked.
She sat up straight and nodded. “I’m sure, and paperwork has been signed, so it’s happening. I’m really excited about it.The building is perfect.” She folded her hands in her lap and tried to smile, though her emotions were scattered, swirlingaround the man seated next to her.
“I just wish you could have done it here.” Shonda wrung her hands. “Maybe if we’d had more time . . . You’re gonna be so far away.”
“It’s not that far. And we have family there,” Kendra offered. “You know, you guys could come and see me and Auntie Mack.We’ll both be there, and that’s Lani’s mom, so she’s got to come to town.”
“That’s true. Actually, I’ll probably drive down with you if you’re okay with that.” Lani reached a hand to her cousin. “Iwant to come help.”
Kendra breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course, I would love that.”
“Kendra,” Logan said quietly. Everybody’s eyes turned to him. “I need to talk to you. Can we go outside for a quick sec?”
She’d been waiting for that. She nodded and stood from the table.
“Hurry back, you don’t want your food to get cold,” Shonda called.
“We’ll just be a minute.” Logan smiled stiffly, his lips pressed together tightly.
They stepped out front and walked around to sit in the rocking chairs on the front porch.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know for sure until yesterday that I was going to do this. It just felt right. And Ihadcome to talk to you about this as well as another opportunity that was here in DC to make sure that I was making the rightchoice, but that was the night with you and BJ talking about what to do with me.”
He steepled his hands and stared out at the street. “I know you wanted to be here so that we could support each other.”
“I did want that and I still want to support you. I still want us to support each other. But honestly, things are better foryou here, and I can’t afford to do what I want to do in DC. I just have a better opportunity in Charleston and I owe it to myself to try.
“If I stay here, I’m going to have to settle. I will have to either give up a part of the business that I want to do or thetype of space that I want, or prioritize other people’s businesses and ideas over my own plans. And I know that you want tohelp, and you’re the best brother, but sometimes I feel like I’m living in your shadow.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself.
Kendra leaned forward and put her hand on her brother’s arm. “You’re so good at everything. You’ve got this business gettingrave reviews, and the place is busy every night. You have a brilliant wife, you have this beautiful home, and I’m just thisshadow that follows you around, helping withyourstuff, living inyourhouse, and I need my own. I have a shot at that in Charleston. I don’t think I have a shot at that here.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Logan stared at the front lawn, rocking slowly, his head bobbing as his hand coveredhers. “I hear you, but you’ve never been in my shadow, Kendra. Ever. You have your own light, and you do things your own way.And—”
