“This is Yale,” I said, even though I knew it was Lina.
“Your appointment is here,” Lina said. “Would you like me to take him to room one?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Offer him something to drink and let him know I’ll be in shortly.”
“No problem,” Lina said, then hung up.
I checked over the two pieces to ensure they met my standards before placing them in the custom bag that all my customersreceived, then walked out of my office. I stopped by the gallery to make sure Lina was good before making my way across the building to the waiting rooms. I knocked twice to give my customer a heads-up before opening the door and walking in.
“Mr. Joseph,” I greeted him with a smile, extending my hand for him to shake. “How are you?”
“I can’t complain,” Mr. Joseph replied as he shook my hand. He pointed to the seat across from him and chuckled. “Have a seat, young lady, and show me what you’ve been working on.”
“I hope you like it,” I said as I sat. “And it’s good to meet you in person finally.”
“I finally had a reason to come to Kansas City again,” he chuckled as he reclaimed his seat. “It’s been years since I was here.”
“How long has it been?” I handed him the bag and relaxed in my seat. The waiting rooms were designed for comfort as well as for the best lighting. I never half assed my work and wanted every customer to see how hard I worked to bring my idea to life.
“Fifteen years,” he answered with a shrug. “I came to see a woman, and she was long gone by the time I got my shit together.”
“A love that got away, huh?” I replied, and he nodded.
“After that, I vowed never to waste time when it came to love,” he replied as he took the boxes from the bag and opened them. “You know what I mean?” he looked up at me and smirked. “Or are you one of those women who are too independent to fall in love?”
“No, sir,” I answered, shaking my head. “I’ve been in love for too long with the same man to ever think about being independent.”
“Oh really?” Mr. Joseph laughed as he took the bracelet out of the box and examined it. “He treats you right, shows youhe loves you. Spoils you and makes sure you’re secure in your relationship?”
“Yes, sir,” I answered quickly.
“He gave you his last name?” He put the bracelet back in the box and opened the second box. When I didn’t answer, he looked up at me and lifted his brow. “I’m going to take that as a no?”
“It’s complicated,” I answered.
“He’s married?”
“No,” I laughed and shook my head. “I am.” I don’t know why it was so easy to talk to Mr. Joseph, but it was. We’d been doing business together for years. He was easy-going on the phone and in person.
“Oh, Yale, don’t tell me you’re one of those swing set people,” he grunted.
“A swing set?” I asked, slightly confused, and he nodded. “What is that?”
“You know those people who share their spouses.”
“A swinger?” I laughed.
“Close enough,” he shrugged. “Are you one of those people?”
“No, sir,” I said as I wiped my hands over my skirt. “I’m not.”
“Then how are you in love with a man that isn’t your husband?”
“Life?” I answered with my own shrug. “We’ve been there for each other. Never missing a moment, butthatmoment you know? Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, and the words were…”
“Never said?”
“No, we said them,” I smiled. “But we never said the most important part.”
