Page 93 of The Dating Prohibition
Kendra’s parents nodded.
“Well—” Logan moved farther into the private room and sat at the dining table, and the others followed “—walk us through howwe can help tomorrow.”
Kendra’s eyes brightened.
?Soft launch was upon them in a flash and Kendra stood at the open front doors greeting people as they walked in. Her familyarrived first to help show people around and to pass out some small plates. Logan was proudly behind the bar, having learnedall of Kendra’s specialty cocktails.
Though they expected many people would focus on the collection of whiskeys and bourbons, Lani was especially excited to see the references to bathtub gin in their signaturemartini and the Harlem 25––their special take on a French 75––and vowed to sample the different types of infused moonshine.
Kendra tried to smile, remembering the suggestions she’d received from BJ as they talked through her plans.
Open spaces on the walls had been filled with portraits of some of the greats from the Harlem Renaissance—Kendra had purchasedthem from a local artist who painted murals in the neighborhood. She intended eventually to commission him to paint the sideof her building.
The owner of a neighboring business arrived with her husband in tow. Alice owned a dance studio two blocks over, but she’dbeen so excited at the prospect of Kendra’s business that she ran over with sweet treats the first day that she heard thenew business owner was in town. Alice gave her a quick hug before introducing her husband, Bob.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kendra said, shaking his hand.
“And you—Alice has been raving about your plans! Tell me, what is it about Prohibition that has you so fascinated?”
“That’s a great question. Prohibition overlapped with the Harlem Renaissance and rumrunners supplied the speakeasies. It wasan important period for culture and music and art and literature and creative expression. It’s an important part of Blackhistory—American history—and I’ve been very lucky to learn so much about it through people that I know.” Her thoughts wentback to BJ.
Bob smiled. “You’ve done an amazing job.” He pointed to a portrait on the wall. “I’m a big Dizzy Gillespie fan. This feelslike we’re stepping back in time, but a modern version of what existed back then.”
Kendra smiled brightly. “That’s exactly what I was aiming for.”
He nodded, and they proceeded inside.
Auntie Mack came to stand next to her. “How are you doing, my love?” She slung an arm around Kendra, squeezing her tight.
“I’m okay. A little nervous,” Kendra whispered.
“A little sad too,” Auntie Mack observed, scrutinizing her niece.
“A little sad,” she admitted. “But grateful. To you—to everyone for the support that I’ve received. This is so much betterthan anything I could have imagined and the ways that you’ve helped me are just so beyond.”
“Listen, I had earmarked that for you long ago. Whether that was going to be for a wedding gift or an inheritance hadn’t beendefined, and this was the right time to do it.”
“Well, it helped more than you know. I was so scared as things were tallying up that I wasn’t going to be able to handle itall. And you made that so much easier for me.”
“We have had too many times where we see in the community that we don’t invest in our own. And in this family, we absolutelydo. Never mind your Uncle Ronnie.”
Kendra laughed. “Come on, Uncle Ronnie means well.”
Auntie Mack gave her the eye. “He’s too frugal for his own good. But that’s beside the point. I can see that something isplaguing your thoughts, and tonight should be about you.”
Kendra sighed. “I know you’re right. I just... I can’t help but think about BJ. He was a big part of this happening, andhis knowledge added to the ideas that I had for this place.”
Auntie Mack grabbed her hand. “I noticed he wasn’t here, but I know what I saw between the two of you. There was genuine carethere. However fleeting, I dare say there was love.”
Kendra’s eyes rose to the rafters as she fought to stop moisture from building.
“Yeah, I think there was,” she whispered. “But he didn’trespond to the invite and Logan doesn’t expect him. I just have to be okay with this.”
“You don’t have to be,” Auntie Mack replied sternly. “It’s okay to feel your feelings, and if you’re not okay with the statusquo, you can do something about it.”
“But what? I can’t force someone to want to be with me. I don’t believe in ultimatums. I think that they make everything worse.If it’s really about me and him, then I feel like I just have to be patient and respect where he is right now.”
Auntie Mack nodded. “I’m proud of you. It’s not easy to be patient and wait for the right one.” She smiled sadly. Lani’s dadhad passed away when the girls were in high school and it took over a decade before Auntie Mack tried to date again. She neverhad tried to settle down again even though she’d had the chance. She just never felt ready.
