by Jacki Kelly
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bishop turned on the computer. He tapped his fingers on the desk while waiting for it to boot up. Until a few weeks ago, feelings and emotions seldom captured his attention for more than a moment. They changed so frequently it didn’t seem necessary to get familiar with them. Then Dakota breezed into Simeon’s suite and everything changed.
Baby steps were in order. She wanted to take leaps and bounds. There was no way he was ready to walk down the aisle or commit to forever. The possibility made him uneasy.
“How’s it going, Bishop?”
He looked up to see Simeon in the door way. “Hey, man. Come on in and have a seat. I haven’t talked with you in a while. There’s lot of stuff I need to catch you up on.” Bishop pointed to the chair
Simeon folded his frame in the straight chair and placed his foot on his knee. “I’ve been busy. I hope you don’t think I’ve abandoned you.”
“Not at all. Was Asa pleased with the setup in New York?”
“Very much. The show was all she could talk about when she got home. Thanks for handling that.” An easy smile settled on Simeon’s face.
“You know, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Dakota. She’s been through a lot this last year. She really is like a sister to me.” He cleared his throat. “I know how you enjoy your… women, but just make sure you don’t hurt her.”
“I know she’s pretty special. But you don’t need to worry. She broke up with me a few days ago.” He paused. “Tell me something, Simeon. How did you know when you were ready to settle down? That Asa was the one?”
Simeon’s face lit up. “I knew Asa was the one in high school. I just had a lot of baggage I needed to deal with. Sometimes I still shake my head when I think how close I came to losing her. I can’t imagine my life without her and Mia.”
“You make marriage sound so simple. So easy.”
“Our relationship wasn’t hard at all when I stopped being selfish.” Simeon pushed out of the seat. “Thankfully, my brother helped me see what I couldn’t.” He nodded and walked out.
Bishop sat in silence for several moments. Nothing in life was ever that simple. What if Dakota wasn’t the one? His father had thought his mother was the right one at some point. But after a few years, when the newness wore off, he realized he hadn’t made the right choice. Now he spends every day chasing something he can’t catch.
His cell phone rang. Adanna’s name flashed on the screen.
“What’s up, sis? “
“Are you and Dakota still coming tonight?”
“Oh, Adanna. I forgot. I don’t think—”
“Don’t you dare say you aren’t coming. Tonight’s our anniversary and you promised to celebrate with us.”
“The thing is, Dakota and I…well, we aren’t together anymore. We haven’t seen each other in several days. I’d make lousy company. How about we get together another day?”
“My anniversary is today. You see, that’s how the celebration works. That’s why the dinner is tonight. Bishop, you do know that sometimes the world doesn’t revolve around you or your wants.”
He squeezed the phone without responding.
“What happened? What stupid-ass thing did you do this time? Don’t you know when you have a good thing? Do you plan to spend the rest of your life chasing pussy?”
“Why don’t you tell me what you really think?” His voice was curt.
“Look, I want you here tonight at seven. The only thing that can stop you is hell and high water. Be here.” She hung up the receiver.
He turned off the phone. Only sisters got to speak that way.
Simeon stuck his head in the office. “Bishop, are you free? I need you to take a ride with me. I want your opinion on a job site.”
Bishop stood up. “I’d love to get out of dinner with my sister tonight, but if I don’t show up, I’ll be drummed out of the brother’s club.”
“I understand. I’ve been there. Good luck.” Simeon headed to the elevator.
He had less than an hour to get to Adanna’s, but instead of following Simeon out of the building, he fell back in his chair. It was just easier to ignore everything. Tonight Adanna would want to know what happened and he had no answers. If he did, he could have fixed things months or years ago when the example he was shown was faulty.
Bishop packed up the computer and left the office. As he pulled out of the parking garage, he turned toward Bristol.
A block from Dakota’s house. He smacked the steering wheel. “Dammit!”
No way would he beg her to change her mind. He jerked the steering wheel to get in the right lane and away from her house. He wouldn’t get to dinner on time. He drove up Kirkwood Highway without turning on his radio.
“You’re fifteen minutes late and why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been calling you.” Adanna greeted him at her front door.
“I had some business to take care of at work. Besides I needed some quiet time.” He hugged his sister.
“Dinner is ready, so wash your hands and come on.” She returned to the kitchen.
He did as requested before returning to the dining room.
“Dennis, how do you put up with that mouth? She’s so bossy.” He sat down at the table.
“Just let her talk and nod.” Dennis laughed.
Adanna put platters of food on the table. “I can hear you two.” She sat next to DJ to feed him.
“What smells so good?” Bishop tickled DJ’s chin. The round-faced baby tapped his spoon on the highchair tray.
“I cooked all of Dennis’s favorites: lamb chops, sweet potato casserole, and collard greens. Now tell me what happened with Dakota. She was the best thing that ever happened to you.” She pushed a spoonful of strained spinach at her son.
“Let’s just say we found out we wanted different things.”
“What? She wanted commitment and you wanted to continue to chase every short skirt within a ten-mile radius?”
“Aren’t you going to help me out, Dennis?” He looked to his brother-in-law.
“Nope. You can handle this one.”
Adanna continued to feed DJ, switching to carrots.
“I don’t chase skirts. I haven’t been on a date since Dakota and I stopped seeing each other.”
“Why not? Don’t tell me you’re pinning for Dakota. How does that feel?”
He hunched his shoulders and glared at his sister. “I’m just not interested right now. I got some stuff I need to sort out. Now get out of my business, why don’t you?”
“I think it’s happened. The mighty Bishop Contee finally met his match.”
He looked down at his plate and shoved the potatoes aside.
“Your food is getting cold. Aren’t you going to eat?” Bishop asked.
“I always feed DJ first.” She wiped the baby’s face as he spit carrots down his chin and onto her hand.
“Here, let me feed him while you eat.” He pulled DJ from the highchair and balanced him on his knee. The baby grabbed his tie, smearing a mixture of spinach and carrots into the tip.
Bishop kissed his nephew on the forehead.
§§§
In the quiet restaurant, Dakota glanced around the table at her sister Asa. Thank God she’d moved back to Bristol. Being able to share stuff lessened the load on her shoulders. Life had the possibility to be good even if there was no leading man in it right now. Even the ache in her heart had dull a little since Bishop decided his life would be easier if he walked away than to commit. It seemed like she was viewing life through a pair of dark shades in a dim room. The lackluster appearance of everything drew her energy, leaving her lethargic.
She could have continued being Bishop’s girlfriend forever. But Mim’s words wouldn’t leave her alone. If you make yourself a doormat, don’t cry when people walk on you. So she had to do something different. She didn’t want to be the girlfriend in a ten-year relationship.
Dakota tried to smile and lifted her wine glass to her sister. “
To us. May we always find happiness.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Asa clicked her glass to Dakota’s and took a long swallow.
Dakota reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ve had a whirlwind year, haven’t we? But we can always count on each other. Through the good and the bad.”
“So what’s up with that good-looking Bishop? I haven’t seen him hanging around lately.” Asa focused her attention on Dakota.
“Bishop was a fling. We had fun for a while. He didn’t want anything serious and I’m not arm candy to be thrown in the back of the closet like yesterday’s shoes.”
Asa picked up her glass. “I heard that.” She took a sip. “Two years ago I was going through some stuff with Simeon. Now this is your time and Melissa’s. You’ll find the right person.”
“Words of wisdom from my sister.” Dakota pushed her plate away. “So should we start planning Christmas activities? East coast or west coast?”
“East coast,” Asa responded. “Let’s celebrate the holiday at my place. I have plenty of room.”
“I’m in. But I don’t think you need to plan on lots of folks. Melissa may be alone and I’m certain I will be.”
Asa nodded. “Let’s pay the check and get out of here. I need to get home and see my baby before she goes to bed.”
In the parking lot, Dakota waved to her sister. As much as she loved her, a little time alone was on the agenda. Spending Christmas in the quiet of her home held some appeal. She could buy herself something decadently expensive, a good bottle of wine, the finest hummus money could buy, and curl up with a good movie. Just the thought of smiling and trying to be happy during all the festivity was too much to think about.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Bishop, wondering what he was doing and whom he was doing it with. She glanced at her watch and tried to imagine him going out with a new woman draped over his arm. Had he ever been serious about her? At least he never professed more than he was capable of giving. So many nights she came within a heartbeat of confessing her love for him. Thankfully she was saved that embarrassment.
In front of her house, she turned off the car. With her hands still on the steering wheel, she peered at the front door. Maybe she needed to get away. A trip to a sunny, warm spot with tropical drinks could put her in a better state of mind. There was no way her sisters could deny she needed a vacation.
A knock on the passenger side window startled her. She glanced over expecting to see Bishop and his big smile. Instead the large blue eyes of Sharon were drilled on her.
This woman was a kook. Dakota wondered if she should pull off and leave her standing on the sidewalk. But she refused to run away, accepting whatever life dished up her.
She swallowed, grabbed her purse, and got out of the car. Balancing the weight of the knapsack on her fingers, she was convinced the weight was heavy enough to pack a wallop if needed.
“Sharon, why are you here?” She tried to sound like an authority.
“I think you know why. Bishop…” She began to cry. “Bishop really loves me and if you step out of the way he’ll realize his feelings for me.”
“This has nothing to do with me.” Dakota took a step back.
“It has everything to do with you. He thinks you’re special.” She wiped her nose with her hand.
“I think this is a conversation you need to have with him. Stalking me isn’t the answer.”
“You need to tell him…tell him.” She raised her hand and Dakota backed up another inch.
If only life were that simple. Dakota pulled the strap of her purse onto her shoulder. “Sharon, Bishop doesn’t belong to me. He makes his own decisions.”
“He won’t take my calls. He won’t see me.” Sharon’s declaration sounded pitiful. Mascara ran down her face, leaving a dark trail on her cheek.
“To love someone who doesn’t love you is one of those cruel twists life throws at our feet. Stepping over the hurt and moving on is the only thing you can control.” Dakota touched Sharon’s arm, hoping to comfort her. “I don’t know what to tell you. But are you sure this is what you want?”
Sharon shook her head. Tears flowed in a steady stream onto her coat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here. This is wrong. I’m acting like a crazy person. This whole thing is just driving me over the edge. You must think I’m a lunatic.”
“This is pretty insane.” Dakota tried to smile.
Sharon drew a deep breath while looking down the street. “Okay. I’m going now. Can we pretend this never happened?”
“If you want, we can do that.”
She nodded and walked away without another word. Dakota rubbed her hands together, wishing she had gloves. When Sharon disappeared around the corner, Dakota climbed the stairs.
She unlocked the door, then heard the phone ring. She rushed to the kitchen and looked at the caller ID. Bishop’s number was on the display. With her hand on the receiver, she wanted to lift it to her ear and hear his smooth voice tickle her heart. Her fingers tightened around the hard plastic, but she refused to pick up.
The phone stopped ringing. Her stomach dropped like an elevator with a broken cable. Without releasing her hold on the phone, she closed her eyes until the feeling passed. Even if she didn’t get the man, she got some satisfaction. She wasn’t running away anymore. The phone rang again as she charged up the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The sparkle and shine of Bookends made the six weeks of destruction all worthwhile. Even if the renovation took a week longer than the original estimate the dust, dirt ,and noise was worth the aggravation. Dakota opened the dusty box of Christmas ornaments. She lifted a red tree ornament and a green one. In the new design, these old decorations wouldn’t do. She needed something that said this was a hip, new place.
Jennifer walked in and tucked her coat across her am. “Is it that time already to put up a tree?” She placed her hand on her hip. “You know I don’t think I’ll ever get used to putting my coat in a closet. Jennifer disappeared to the back of the store, mumbling as she walked.
The door to the store opened again. Dakota looked up to see Bishop strolling toward the counter. The pen in her hand began to shake. Without taking a deep breath, she tried to fill her lungs with air. She tried to tamp down the emotions churning in her stomach. She tried to appear normal. He could have shown up in her store for any number of reasons. Probably to see the finished product of his handiwork.
“What are you doing here?”
He gave her a smile. The empty weeks vanished. She wanted to walk into his arms and live the dreams she’d envisioned. Instead, she remained by the register. The counter put the right amount of distance between them.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.”
“I’ve been ignoring your calls.”
He rested his elbow on the counter. “Why?”
“Did you want to talk to me about the renovation? Something to do with the store?”
She wanted her voice to sound casual and light not like the voice of an angry lover, the way Sharon had sounded a few weeks ago.
His smile penetrated the shield around her heart. “No. I wanted to talk to you. We can still talk, can’t we?”
She stood in front of him. “Yes, we can do that.” She released the breath she’d been holding. His smile widened. “How have you been? I missed you.”
She took a step. “I’m doing okay. Business has picked up, so I’m keeping me busy.”
“I don’t want to hear about the store. I’m asking about you. I miss you.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to the edge of the counter.
Dakota gave him a half smile. “I’m pretty busy right now. Maybe we can talk later.”
“This is a bookstore. I came to buy books.” His heavy voice sent a wave of nostalgia through her. Loneliness pushed her to climb on his body and hold on. She turned her attention to the box of decorations, pulling a string of garland from a plastic bag.
“Jennifer should be ab
le to help you.” She closed the lid on the box and sat the box on the floor. As long as she remained occupied she could forget him.
Instead of wearing a suit and tie, today, his dark jeans and cashmere sweater made him look even more handsome. She thought she might be able to get over him, but as he swaggered down the aisle to find Jennifer, she realized just how difficult getting over him was going to be.
The sound of his voice filtered to her, even though she couldn’t make out the words.
He came back to the counter with a stack of books in his arms.
“What are you doing, Bishop?” She placed a hand on her hip.
“I want to buy these books.”
She keyed up the register, picked up the first book and glanced at the title. “Why are you buying ‘Love Letters of Great Men and The 50 Greatest Love Letters of All Time’?”
“Maybe I’ll learn something.” He shoved one hand in his pocket. “I could learn all the right words and put them together just so that you know how I really feel about you. I hope they’ll tell me the right way to win you back.”
She rang up his sale and placed the book in the bag. “Bishop, please don’t tease me.”
“If you think I’m teasing you, then I really do need help with my words. I’m trying to get you to say you’ll have dinner with me tonight. You see, I’m willing to go as fast or as slow as you want.”
“But are you ready to go all the way?”
He bent and whispered, “I thought we already did that.”
“I’m serious, Bishop.”
“So am I. I’ve never been more serious. Dinner tonight? I’ll pick you up at eight?” He looked determined. She felt like she was tumbling down a steep hill with her eyes squeezed too tight to grab hold on to anything to stop the fall. What advice would Mim give? She wanted to follow her heart, even if it didn’t seem like wise choice.
“Bishop, we’ve been down this road, we know where this path leads. And as much as I might want to spend time with you, it’s not a good idea. What’s different now?”