that Michael could sit in the booth next to me. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he said, parting his full lips into a smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Michael goes to our church. He’s also in public relations—mainly for restaurants and nightclubs in the city. He’s agreed to help us.” Crystal said.
“Help you do what?” I asked.
Uncle Troy folded his hands in front of him. “I’ve always run this place the way I wanted and I’m proud of it, but in order to keep up with the times, we could stand to make some improvements. Besides, this is going to be Crystal’s place now and I want it to reflect that.”
Crystal quickly chimed in. “However, the heart and soul of what makes this place special will remain. We were thinking of a few menu changes, some cosmetic work, maybe have some live music on the weekends.”
“Cosmetic work? Won’t that be expensive?”
Uncle Troy nodded. “It will be, but I’ve planned for that. I’ve been saving my whole life. I’m willing to reinvest a fraction of it in this place. Hell, it’s how I made the money to begin with.”
“And I’m donating my services,” Michael said.
I almost forgot he was there. I turned to study him as Crystal started talking about updating the ovens and freezer. He looked to be about my age, fit, with hair cut close to his head. He was very handsome and, as he started to talk about his ideas for helping the restaurant gain more visibility, it was clear he knew his business.
“Your uncle tells me you’re a marketing manager at Braxton & Lloyd. Great firm.”
“Yes, my primary focus is social media, helping brands find their online voice.”
“We were thinking you could work with Michael and help us incorporate some of the changes,” Crystal said. I could tell by the look in her eyes she really wanted me to say yes.
“Of course I’ll help.” My mind was already filling up with ideas.
Uncle Troy smiled. “Perfect. I’ll go get us some drinks and send Layla over to take your order; get some brain food into my Dream Team.”
***
A few days later, Patrick and I were at our neighborhood market getting groceries for the week.
“You get the deli stuff and I’ll get produce?” Patrick asked.
I nodded and left him with our cart to take my place in line behind a woman at the deli counter a few feet away. After a few moments I heard a female voice say, “Excuse me. Aren’t you on Shining Moments ?”
I smiled and glanced over my shoulder. Patrick was placing tomatoes in a produce bag and nodding at a small elderly white woman. I was getting used to this, probably more than Patrick was. Every other time we went out he was recognized for being on television. I turned back around and listened to the rest of the conversation.
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“I thought so! I love you on it. Well, isn’t this something?”
She went on to ask him questions about the show and upcoming storylines that he couldn’t answer. To her credit she took it all in stride, and was more than happy to have Patrick autograph a receipt she dug out of her purse.
“You know,” she said, “I have a granddaughter around your age. She’s beautiful, if I do say so myself. She loves Shining Moments , too. I would love for you two to meet.”
I smiled and shook my head. Can’t blame the lady for trying.
“I’m sure she’s lovely, but I have a girlfriend. She’s right over there.”
I turned as they approached, a smile on my face and all prepared to offer up a playful apology for already snagging the man. The elderly lady walked right up to the white woman in front of me and said, “You’re a lucky woman.”
The woman in the deli line had been texting on her phone and oblivious to the whole conversation. She gave the older woman a confused smile. “I’m sorry?”
Patrick stood at my side and put his arm
“Likewise,” he said, parting his full lips into a smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Michael goes to our church. He’s also in public relations—mainly for restaurants and nightclubs in the city. He’s agreed to help us.” Crystal said.
“Help you do what?” I asked.
Uncle Troy folded his hands in front of him. “I’ve always run this place the way I wanted and I’m proud of it, but in order to keep up with the times, we could stand to make some improvements. Besides, this is going to be Crystal’s place now and I want it to reflect that.”
Crystal quickly chimed in. “However, the heart and soul of what makes this place special will remain. We were thinking of a few menu changes, some cosmetic work, maybe have some live music on the weekends.”
“Cosmetic work? Won’t that be expensive?”
Uncle Troy nodded. “It will be, but I’ve planned for that. I’ve been saving my whole life. I’m willing to reinvest a fraction of it in this place. Hell, it’s how I made the money to begin with.”
“And I’m donating my services,” Michael said.
I almost forgot he was there. I turned to study him as Crystal started talking about updating the ovens and freezer. He looked to be about my age, fit, with hair cut close to his head. He was very handsome and, as he started to talk about his ideas for helping the restaurant gain more visibility, it was clear he knew his business.
“Your uncle tells me you’re a marketing manager at Braxton & Lloyd. Great firm.”
“Yes, my primary focus is social media, helping brands find their online voice.”
“We were thinking you could work with Michael and help us incorporate some of the changes,” Crystal said. I could tell by the look in her eyes she really wanted me to say yes.
“Of course I’ll help.” My mind was already filling up with ideas.
Uncle Troy smiled. “Perfect. I’ll go get us some drinks and send Layla over to take your order; get some brain food into my Dream Team.”
***
A few days later, Patrick and I were at our neighborhood market getting groceries for the week.
“You get the deli stuff and I’ll get produce?” Patrick asked.
I nodded and left him with our cart to take my place in line behind a woman at the deli counter a few feet away. After a few moments I heard a female voice say, “Excuse me. Aren’t you on Shining Moments ?”
I smiled and glanced over my shoulder. Patrick was placing tomatoes in a produce bag and nodding at a small elderly white woman. I was getting used to this, probably more than Patrick was. Every other time we went out he was recognized for being on television. I turned back around and listened to the rest of the conversation.
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“I thought so! I love you on it. Well, isn’t this something?”
She went on to ask him questions about the show and upcoming storylines that he couldn’t answer. To her credit she took it all in stride, and was more than happy to have Patrick autograph a receipt she dug out of her purse.
“You know,” she said, “I have a granddaughter around your age. She’s beautiful, if I do say so myself. She loves Shining Moments , too. I would love for you two to meet.”
I smiled and shook my head. Can’t blame the lady for trying.
“I’m sure she’s lovely, but I have a girlfriend. She’s right over there.”
I turned as they approached, a smile on my face and all prepared to offer up a playful apology for already snagging the man. The elderly lady walked right up to the white woman in front of me and said, “You’re a lucky woman.”
The woman in the deli line had been texting on her phone and oblivious to the whole conversation. She gave the older woman a confused smile. “I’m sorry?”
Patrick stood at my side and put his arm
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