“Why can’t we just talk, Dove? I’ve missed you. Missed hearing your voice, seeing your smile, and hearing that breathylaugh that you do when you find something funny. Definitely missed feeling your body?—”
“Leave!” I shouted. My stomach twisted in knots, and my vision blurred with unshed tears.
“Dove, please. I still love you, and I know that we can work things out if you just give us a chance. I believe in us, and I never stopped.”
“It’s impossible to work things out with you. You lied to me.”
“Not completely, sweetheart. I?—”
“Oh my goodness. Please go, Neal,” I pleaded, backing up.
“What? What’s wrong?” he asked, looking over his shoulder. “Damn! I’m sorry, Dove. I didn’t realize they followed me here.”
A couple of men stood just outside of my shop, peering into the window with cameras. They were snapping pictures, and it was worse than seeing the posts online. The flash of the cameras caused all the horrible memories of the last year to come flooding back. I had just gotten past that period, only for Neal’s presence to bring it all back.
He rushed to the window and closed the blinds before he stepped out of the shop and cursed at the men. I rushed to the door to lock it, but not before Neal stepped back inside.
I trembled and cried. When he reached for me, I swung at him. “Don’t touch me! You’ve done enough damage in my life. I cannot go through this again. Just go!”
“I’ll give you time to calm down, Dove, but I’m not giving up. I’ll be back, sweetheart,” he vowed, backing out of the door.
I quickly locked it behind him before he could change his mind. I ran to the back and dialed my sister, Ivy’s, number.
“Hello?”
“Ivy.” I sobbed into the phone.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Oops. Sorry, Ma.”
I proceeded to tell my sister what happened, and I could hear my mother in the background saying,“Turn here.”
Within five minutes, my sister showed up at the shop with my mother. They had been shopping in the area. I opened the shop and let them in, and they both wrapped their arms around me.
“Everything will be okay,” Mama promised.
“I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up after all the damage he’s caused. His trifling ass should’ve stayed under a rock, like he did when you needed him most,” Ivy declared angrily.
“I know. I don’t know what made him return. Life was just starting to look up again.”
“How long were those men standing outside before you noticed them?” Mama asked.
“Not long,” I replied, sniffling. “They couldn’t have gotten many shots.”
“Were you two touching at all?” she asked.
“No. I was behind the counter, and he was on the other side.”
“Bet his trifling ass set it up to stay relevant,” Ivy complained.
“I just thought it was over. I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” I sobbed.
“I know what I’m gonna do. I’ma find that trifling ass nigga and get Ant and Tino to whup his ass,” Ivy declared heatedly. She referred to her boyfriend, Anton, and his brother, Antino.
“Girl, hush. You’re not gonna do anything except make it worse. Your sister doesn’t need that. Dove, honey, from the time this thing started, you planted your feet firmly in the sand and decided you wouldn’t do anything one way or another but stand your ground. You said you weren’t ducking out, hiding, or leaving your shop despite all the negative attention that came your way. I applauded you. I think I was wrong. Taking time out to assess the situation, gain a different perspective, and to just breathe is not hiding or being a coward. It allows you to get yourbearings together, figure out a different approach, and protect your mental health.”
“What are you saying, Mama?” I asked through the thickness in my throat and the tears that rushed down my face.
“Baby, I’m saying that you need to go to our little cottage on Sorrel for at least one month. Your father and I will run the shop in your absence.”
