Page 43 of The Dating Prohibition
Two weeks later, Kendra squinted her eyes and snapped the photo. “Okay, that was perfect. Thanks, guys, lunch is ready for
y’all!”
The construction workers nodded at her, having spent the past week reconstructing the bar to her specifications and they were
set to start working on the floors the next day. She’d set out platters of sandwiches and her aunt’s famous potato salad,
along with fruit and bottled water.
“This is really coming together.” Her eyes swept the room, looking at everything from the exposed brick to the heavy wood
sliding door that partitioned off the bar and lounge area from the speakeasy supper club dining room. High above, there were
exposed wooden beams and updated light fixtures giving a warm light ambiance. Strands of Edison lights hung above the bar
and new custom shelving had been installed earlier that day.
“Your whole dream is coming true, cousin.” Lani admired the bar, running her hand across the glossy wood plank cut from the
center of a tree trunk. “I love the natural edges and how it’s, like, glossed over the bark. It’s so pretty.”
Kendra grinned. “I love that too. I feel like a proud momma!”
“Now remind me, what are they doing to the floors? Are they going to be wood?”
“No, I decided to go a different direction—cheaper route.” Kendra laughed. “They’re going to be pouring cement and then it’s
going to be painted and polished and I’m super excited about it. It’ll be easy to clean and it can stand a lot of wear and
tear.”
“Sounds dope! So tell me about some of these seating plans.”
“You know, when BJ and I were looking at different properties, he had been pointing out different things that he knew were
commonplace from the Prohibition Era, but we also talked about some of the ways that the different clubs and speakeasies up
in Harlem were furnished. And so, there’s going to be those really beautiful round booths that face this open table seating,
which can be moved at times when we have live music. For those occasions, we can allow the booths to be reserved. And if there’s
a large group, of course, we could always have some of the other tables reserved too.
“There is going to be one big communal table where anyone can sit. It allows patrons to mingle and maybe build some community.
There will be some pub tables with stools and then there’s going to be those great leather stools up against the bar. The
host stand is being custom made by one of Auntie Mack’s neighbors, who apparently owes her a favor.” Kendra tilted her head,
inquiring with her eyes.
“Oh, you mean Terrence,” Lani shared. “Yeah, he owes her several favors.”
“Oh, well good, because maybe they’ll keep helping me. She’s been saving me a shit ton with all the people she’s connected
to here.”
Lani rolled her eyes but she couldn’t hide her smile. “That’s Mom . . . Are you feeling this financially yet?”
“Not as badly as I could, but it’s definitely a humbling thing to watch how quickly money flies out the door. And then you
always have unforeseen things—we had some unexpected electrical issues, but we got them under control. And it’s not like I
can call someone else who’s responsible for fixing these things—it’s all on me, so it’s a lot, but it’s also my baby. I can’t
believe it’s really happening.”
Lani looked up at the high ceilings. “It was always going to happen because you were always going to make it happen.”
Kendra put a hand on her cousin’s shoulder. “Thank you for believing in me.”
“Are you kidding? You’re always going to be a good bet. I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m so grateful for you. You helped me to keep my sanity through all of this.” Kendra grasped Lani’s hand. “None of you let
me give up.”
“Never gonna happen, cuz. You deserve the world. And I think more than anything, we just wanted you to see that this was possible.”
Kendra nodded. “I definitely see it now.”
“So what’s next?”
“After the floors, I have some guys that are gonna help me bring a lot of the inventory and stuff over. Then the furniture
is being brought in and the booths will be installed. So, for right now, we really just have stuff to do from home—ordering
things, connecting to people. I’ve got to send invites for the launch.”
“Are you inviting everybody?” Lani gave her a knowing glance.
Kendra nodded. “Yep. There are no hard feelings when it comes to BJ and all that stuff. If he wants to be here to support, I would be happy to have him.”
Lani blew out a relieved breath. “That’s a good mindset, cuz.”
“It’s the honest truth. He’s helped by talking me through a lot of things, and honestly, he hyped me up a lot. So, I am grateful
for everything.”
Lani nodded. “Hopefully, he is able to make it and you two can talk. I still think there’s stuff to be discussed.”
“I don’t know about all that.” Kendra glanced at her warily. “I think it’s pointless. If the man isn’t ready, there’s nothing
we can do to help him get there. He’s got to get there on his own, and who knows when that will be?”
“But maybe he doesn’t completely know whether he’s ready or not. There’s no way to know that for sure unless you two talk about it.”
“Well, that is not a conversation I intend to initiate, so good luck with that.”
Lani sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. We’re gonna get you past these fears.”
“I’m not afraid. I just...” She searched for the right words. “I just want things to be situated in a way where there’s
no question that we both want it. I don’t want someone doing something just because they’re trying to make me happy if it
means they won’t be.”
“What if he is sure?”
“Then he would have to tell me that and we could consider it at that time. And in the meantime, I’m not holding my breath.
Now, we need to take a selfie so that I can post all these things to Instagram, because you know the whole family’s following
to see the progress.”
“Right.” Lani rested an elbow on Kendra’s shoulder and held up a peace sign as they both grinned at the camera.
“Perfect.”
The next couple of days were a blur. At home, Kendra spent time ordering and confirming deliveries for furniture, decor,
paper supplies, dishware, and flatware. Her head was spinning as the tallies rose, but she was grateful because Auntie Mack
had been extremely observant in watching all of what Kendra was taking on and had dropped off a love gift that brought Kendra
to tears. When her aunt presented her with the check, she sobbed like a baby, ugly crying, her heart filled to the brim.
Lani, to her credit, had been a godsend in keeping the construction workers on task and Kendra fed while she tackled a list
of never-ending orders, set a launch date, and sent invitations to all of their friends and family, BJ included.
“I think we thought of everything,” she sighed as Lani plopped down on the couch next to her.
“You know, you have a whole office. You don’t have to sit here on the couch working.”
“I know, but it’s comfortable here and you’ve been hanging out here. And the office isn’t fully furnished yet, so there isn’t
an extra chair for you to hang with me in there.”
Lani cracked up. “True. I really am gonna miss you.”
“Don’t remind me,” Kendra whined.
“I know, but I’ll be back soon.” Lani’s suitcase sat near the front door. They were awaiting the car service arrival to take
her to the airport.
“I know I’m just being selfish but there’s no way we’d be so close to launch without the help you’ve given me these last few
weeks. I can’t believe how quickly all of this came together.”
“I really can’t take credit—it came together fast because you had a vision and my mom happens to know the right people in town who are about their business.”
Kendra nodded. “She really does. And I was completely stunned at her gift.”
“Why? She told you she wanted to help.”
“She did, but I didn’t think she was gonna go so big. It was beyond generous.”
“Kenny, you have to know that you’re worth it. To all of us.”
Kendra choked back tears. “I know that I really shouldn’t be this surprised, but it’s a lot.”
“Well, uh, because I am that cousin that happens to spoil things for people, I’m gonna tell you to just mentally prepare yourself
because more is coming.”
“What?” Kendra exclaimed. “What’s coming? And from whom? My parents?”
“Don’t worry about that. Just start practicing how you’re going to fix your face to be surprised and grateful. Gifts are a
blessing. So no more trying to argue about them or negotiate them down because you think it’s too much. You don’t block blessings,
because they were meant for you, hear?”
“Okay. You had to take me to church before you left, cuz?”
“Somebody should, you heathen.” Lani elbowed her cousin in the ribs.
“Ow!”
“Sometimes you deserve it.”
“No, you’re right.”
Lani’s phone buzzed. “My ride is here. So, I will see you in another week and a half.”
Kendra nodded miserably.
“I’ll FaceTime you when I get home, and once you start getting the furniture and everything in and situated, you know, I want
to see everything.”
“I know, I know . . .”
“And more than what you’re showing on Instagram, because I know you’re trying to save some surprises.”
“I hear you,” Kendra replied, nodding along. “I promise.”
“Okay. Well, come here.” Lani wrapped Kendra tight in a big hug. “You deserve every bit of this, cousin. To celebrate, I want
you to slow down and take notice of what’s happening around you. And I want you to relish in the fact that you are the reason your dreams are coming true.”
“Well, I had help,” she started to rebut.
Lani stepped back and glared at her. “ You are the reason your dreams are coming true. You wouldn’t have had help if you didn’t communicate what it was you were trying
to do and surround yourself with people who want to support you. You did that.”
“You’re right. Not blocking blessings... Compliments are hard,” Kendra laughed.
Lani pulled her cousin in for one more hug. “Okay, I gotta go.”
“Okay, text me once you get through security.”
“I will.”
Lani stepped out the door, and Kendra followed, watching from the porch. The driver stepped out of the car to assist Lani
with her bags as she sat in the back, grinning and waving through the window until they drove off.
As Kendra stood there watching, her phone began to ping with notifications. People were already RSVP’ing to her launch. One fear gone, at least people will be there.
Her mind wandered to BJ, and she wondered whether he would make the trip.