Kingston was holding Sinclair so tight that he felt her try to escape his hold.
“I can’t.” Sinclair blurted out while trying to free herself from Kingston who refused to let her go. “Everyone who I have ever loved left me.”
Sinclair had been through enough heart ache and pain to last her an eternity and there was no way she was going to get hurt again. She intended to keep guarding her heart as she had for some many years, but the more she was with Kingston the harder it became.
“It’s okay Sinclair, I understand. But just to let you know I am not the man who broke your heart. Nor am I the man who is going to run away from a beautiful woman who is afraid of love. However, I am the man who is going to show you what real unconditional love is. Now you can push me all you want but I am not going anywhere.” Kingston said staring Sinclair right in her eyes.
“Is that so?” Sinclair asked, sounding skeptical.
“Yes, that’s so.” Kingston countered her while still staring down at her.
“We’ll see about that,” Sinclair replied with hesitation in her voice.
“We surely will. Now I would love for you to be my date for the annual Giving Back Gala. It’s a black tie affair where men have to wear tuxedos and women gowns. The gala raises money for several different charities that give back to the community. My parents will be there and I would really like you to meet them.” Kingston was praying Sinclair would agree because he really wanted his parents to meet her.
“I would love to be your date at the Gala.” Sinclair batted her eyes at Kingston feeling a little more at eased now.
“Thank you,” Kingston answered as he loosened his grip on Sinclair.
“By the way, you have some nice moves. I didn’t know pastors can dance.” Sinclair was definitely enjoying her time slow dancing with Kingston. It was nice and he smelled good too.
“I got it from watching my parents cut a rug as they say.” Kingston replied as they continued to dance to their own music in their heads. “If you like that then you’ll love this.” Kingston took Sinclair and twirled her around and dipped her leaving her simply stunned.
UNCERTAINTY
The old back storage room where she once slept had now become an oversized walk in storage closet. It was complete with movable shelves and pull out rolling storage drawers. There everything was kept from clothes to shoes, to personal hygiene items as well as brochures for her clients. The larger back room where all the books were stored had now become a small kitchenette. It was complete with a microwave and full sized refrigerator tucked in the corner near the back door.
“Thank God I don’t have errands to run today.” Sinclair said a she shook off her umbrella when she walked into her agency. “It’s pouring cats and dogs out there.”
“Morning Sinclair,” chimed her assistant Sasha and staffer Oliver.
“Morning, everyone, I hope everyone’s weekend was great.” Sinclair said while taking off her hat and placing it and her umbrella on the stand.
“It was nice,” Oliver replied while grabbing a mint from the candy jar.
“Sasha, can you give me the rundown of our calendar?” Sinclair asked as they made their way to the table.
With her notepad in hand Sasha began. “Today you have a ten o’clock with Mr. Dunbar who wants to speak to you regarding the repairs to the basement.”
“That’s great because I would like to fix it up and use the space for more storage,” Sinclair said to Robyn.
“At eleven o’clock we have several clients coming in that need our help,” Sasha explained as she checked the items off her list.
“I believe one of the women is also pregnant.” Oliver added to the conversation.
“That’s not a problem at all. Please put in a few extra large shirts and pants with an elastic waist in her bag when you pack it. That way the baby can have room to grow.
“It’s already done,” Oliver replied as he sipped his French Vanilla coffee.
“Great job Oliver,” Sinclair said.
“I have a questions Sinclair.” Sasha raised her pen in the air. “It’s hurricane weather outside and yet your face is glowing. Would you like to tell us why?”
“I noticed that too Sasha,” Oliver said as a matter of fact.
“What? I am not glowing.” Sinclair replied ignoring them both.
“Yes you are.” The two said in unison.
“Okay if you must know, I am just really happy these days. The people I employ are great and the man I have been dating is wonderful. Are you happy now?”
“I want to sit in the front row when you two get married,” Sasha chimed in.
“And I will be sitting right next to you,” Oliver added.
“You guys are crazy, I’m going to my office,” Sinclair said while grabbing her things to leave.
“And Oliver and Sasha thank you for all you do for me. I really appreciate it.” Sinclair smiled.
“You’re welcome,” Sasha and Oliver simply replied.
Sinclair climbed the stairs to her loft office which she considered to be her sanctuary. At one point it was the storage area for books before she converted it into her office. Now her converted office looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. Her sanctuary was nicely decorated with book shelves filled with gifts that her former clients had given her. A collage of pictures that she had taken with her clients hung vibrantly on the largest wall. Various plagues and certificates also hung on her walls.
The contractor was so impressed with the outcome that he began using her space as a model for his future projects. Miss Marjorie would surely be proud of what she had done to the place.
“Sinclair, your ten o’clock is here. Should I send him up?” Sasha asked over the intercom.
“Yes, you can send him up.” Sinclair said as put away a few papers into her top drawer.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Dunbar.” Sinclair said while she extended her hand to shake as he reached the last step.
“Same here Miss Madison,” the gentleman said as he shook her hand.
“Please, have a seat,” Sinclair offered him while pointing to the two chairs sitting directly in front of her desk.
“Thank you for seeing me Miss Madison, I know you are a busy woman.” He replied as he laid his rain coat on the arm of the empty chair.
“So, Mr. Dunbar I understand that you are here about the repairs that I need done.” Sinclair implied as she took her seat at her desk.
“Forgive me, but that’s not exactly the truth,” the gentleman admitted.
Sinclair feeling a little uneasy, straightened herself in her chair not knowing what to expect.
“Before I begin, my full name is Chad Dunbar but you can just call me Chad. We don’t have to use all the formalities because I am a businessman just like you are a businesswoman. I’m a real estate investor doing business in this area.” He said as he reached into his left jacket pocket and handed Sinclair his business card.
That definitely explained the way he was dressed, Sinclair thought. He was way too overdressed to be a contractor. He was wearing a light gray suit and he had a pocket watch hanging from his inside vest pocket. Sinclair didn’t know what to think of the man that sat before her, but she didn’t like the feeling that had begun to creep into the pit of her stomach. Besides lying to her about his reasoning for making an appointment, something else was just not sitting well with Sinclair.
She had learned to read people years ago in the system and she could easily tell when someone was not only lying to her but had alternative plans. She always kept her belongings packed when she got that feeling. Those feelings had never lied to her because every time she felt uneasy she ended up being moved to a new home. Today she sat with a stranger and those same feelings came back to her.
“So why are you here Mr. Dunbar?” Sinclair asked ignoring his request to call him Chad.
The tall Caucasian man brushed his blond hair with his hands and continued. “Can I call you Sinclair?” He asked her nonchalantly.<
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Sinclair cracked her folded hands and sat forward. “Look Mr. Dunbar, let’s not play this game. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. So let’s keep the formalities right where they are as Miss Madison and Mr. Dunbar.” Sinclair was not about to sit and let this man come into her office and turn their business into a personal affair.
“My apologies Miss Madison.” The man said while holding up his hands.
“Thank you for your apologies. Now exactly how can I help you?” Sinclair spoke in a stern voice.
“I want to buy your business and this property that it sits on.” Mr. Dunbar replied in a cool voice getting right to the point.
“It’s not for sale.” Sinclair said blankly.
“When you converted this old bookstore into the new business it drastically increased the value of this property. Even Marjorie Betton herself could not have imagined what a tremendous spike in the property value renovating would do,” the blue eyed man said while unbuttoning his vest jacket.
“I see you have done your homework, Mr. Dunbar but it’s still not for sale. Now unless you want to donate something I think we’re done here.” Her feelings were right, he did have ill intentions.
“I also know that Marjorie Betton once owned it and now you do. I’m thinking with the changing of hands of this fine establishment you would like to make some serious money and change it into my hands.” The man said with a wide evil grin.
Sinclair started getting up from her seat. “Obviously, you are not hearing me when I say my business is not for sale. This meeting or better yet, this charade, is over.”
“Maybe this will help you change your mind.” The man said reaching into his right pocket and handing Sinclair an envelope as he rose to his feet.
Sinclair opened the envelope where she stood. “Mr. Dunbar take you and your five hundred thousand dollar check and leave my business right now. If you don’t, you will have some serious, serious problems.” Sinclair said in an even more stern voice as she handed the envelope back to Mr. Dunbar.
“That’s okay.” The man said taking back the envelope and grabbing his rain jacket off the chair. “I am leaving anyway but I will be back sooner rather than later.” He said as he began walking down the stairs.
“I wouldn’t advise that Mr. Dunbar. It would not be a good idea, trust me.” Sinclair said to him as he stopped and turned back to her.
“Good day Miss Madison.” He said as he placed his hat on his head and he walked out into the rainy weather.
********************
“Robyn this was such a good idea coming to the mall today. It’s like a hundred degrees outside today and what better place than to hit the mall in Virginia for a nice change of scenery,” Sinclair said as they walked around the massive mall.
The four story mall was filled with many shoppers on this extremely hot day milling around the numerous stores. Some were trying to get away from the humid temperatures outside while others were simply at the mall shopping which featured one hundred stores under its glass ceiling dome shaped roof.
“So true. Besides, I think I am tanned enough,” joked about the dark skinned Robyn who wore her dread locks pinned up because of the heat.
“Girl I am not far behind you neither.” Sinclair laughed. “Look I’m tanned on the outside of my arms and we have only been outside for about twenty minutes.”
“You know Robyn, the strangest thing happened this week at the office,” Sinclair said as they strolled through the crowded mall.
“What happened?” Robyn asked as she headed right for the Smoothie and Shake stand.
“I’ll take a banana shake since we’re here,” Sinclair said waiting for Robyn to place her order.
“I’ll have a raspberry chocolate orange smoothie please.” Robyn said to the clerk as both the clerk and Sinclair looked at her strangely.
“What?” She questioned them both. Sinclair just shook her head.
“After you buy up all the flavors please don’t forget my banana shake.” Sinclair knew Robyn had a habit of ordering crazy foods but this took the cake.
After receiving their orders they continued to window shop the many stores. “Anyway,” Sinclair started while sipping on her shake. “Some guy came to the office wanting to see me. I thought he was there about the repairs that had to be done since I had contacted a few contractors but he wasn’t a contractor at all.”
“What? So who was he?” Robyn asked as she stopped to look in the window of a baby store.
“He was a realtor looking to buy my agency and land it sits on,” Sinclair told a surprised Robyn.
“That’s the same surprised look I had on my face too,” Sinclair said pointing to Robyn.
“I didn’t know you were selling the business.” Robyn said deciding to walk into the store this time.
“Neither did I.” Sinclair replied while following Robyn around the store.
Sinclair didn’t know what to think of the man that came to her agency. His demeanor had Sinclair on edge because something did not feel right to her.
“I told him I wasn’t selling and if he wanted to donate something we would accept any donations. He whipped out a check for five hundred thousand dollars for me to sell.” Sinclair explained while looking at Robyn weird.
“What? Are you serious?” Robyn didn’t even notice the unusual way Sinclair was staring at her.
“Girl, I gave him back his check and showed him the door. Before he left he said I would see him again. I told him if he came back to my agency it wouldn’t be pretty. The arrogant guy just gave me the creeps.” Sinclair was still feeling uneasy about him.
“Did you tell Kingston about him?” Robyn asked as she started walking out of the store.
“No, I didn’t want to bother him. Besides it was nothing, just an overzealous realtor.” Sinclair explained.
“Weird. Now if you need me to have Desmond call in a few favors, I can make sure he really doesn’t come back.” Robyn offered while enjoying her mixed smoothie.
“I’m okay but thanks anyway,” Sinclair loved that she always had good friends to help her if she needed. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to call in any favors.
“So, Sinclair how was your trip with Kingston up to Bel Air?” Robyn asked as they window shopped.
“Oh it was good, I got a lot of clothes for my agency,” Sinclair said deliberating giving Robyn the run around.
“Stop playing with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Robyn said while she admired a pair of earrings in a window.
“Okay but we need to sit down because it was good. I mean better than good.” Sinclair wanted to take her time and not leave anything out because she really had fun.
The two grabbed a seat on a nearby bench together.
“So I drove up to Bethesda to pick him up and he had two large suitcases like we were going on a trip or something. I erased it from my mind thinking maybe he brought them to have more room. I mean just in case it was too much for my SUV to handle. That way the suitcases could be mounted to the hood and the rest could still fit inside my trunk. Anyway, the ride up to Bel Air was great that day. Kingston was great company and his gray eyes always seemed to be dancing whenever I looked at him.” Sinclair had started to explain.
“We had just left the second church and were on our way back home. Kingston asked me to make a stop on the side of the road because he needed a minute, so I gave him some privacy by walking across the road. After a few minutes he called me to come over to him and I could not believe my eyes. Kingston had laid out a picnic lunch under a tree with jazz music coming from the speakers inside the suitcase.” Sinclair explained remembering it like it happened yesterday.
“Awe,” is all Robyn managed to say.
“He made a seafood salad, fresh fruit kabobs and homemade lemonade for us. We ate under the shady tree while listening to a jazz cd that Kingston made. He had a great selection of music that dated back to the early twenties. We danced to the music and just had a wonderful, w
onderful time,” Sinclair said while trying to relive the glorious moment.
“It’s about time you went out and had some fun. I’m so happy for you,” Robyn said as she hugged Sinclair.
“That was the most romantic thing a man had ever done for me. I was actually floored.” Sinclair couldn’t stop smiling just thinking about what Kingston did for her. “I just don’t want to get my heart broken again.” Sinclair said as she got up and started walking.
“Sinclair, wait,” Robyn said running to catch up to her.
“No one wants to get hurt. But did you know that you hurt yourself when you carry that fear around with you. You can’t carry old baggage into new relationships?” Sinclair was running scared and Robyn knew it. Whenever Sinclair got scared she always ran. “Did you know that Sinclair?”
“Robyn, he told me he is falling in love with me.” Sinclair babbled on.
“He is not falling in love with you; he is in love with you. He invited you to The Gala which is a black tie affair to meet his parents and friends too. Hint. Hint. That man is in love with you.” Robyn concluded as they started walking again toward a handbag store. “And by the sign of you getting nervous, you are falling for him. Shoot, I see the smile that crosses your face when you talk about him, your eyes light up and your dimples start jumping around.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Sinclair through her hands in front of her face.
“You don’t know what? How to let someone take care of you and relax for a change? Or how to receive love when it’s given to you with no strings attached. Here’s another one. You don’t know how not to be scared. You need to stop this madness. If he didn’t see you in his future there’d be no way he would bring you among his peers.”
“Robyn you have been married for years so you wouldn’t understand?” Sinclair shook her head.
“Just because I’m married doesn’t mean I don’t understand fear. I was scared as heck when I met Desmond. But I got over my fear and saw him for him and not anyone else. See this is the crap I hate. We as women say we want a good man but when one comes along we don’t know how to act. We are so used to getting dogged out by the no good men, that when the good one comes along we go running with our tails between our legs. I love you like a sister. Let that man love you.”
The Pastor's Heart Page 7