A Love of Her Own Read Online Free PDF Page A

running both of her restaurants, the original one on Main Street and the larger one in Nile Beach. Kendall and her husband, Spencer Barnes, operated Nile Beach’s leading night spot and were the new owners of Robinson’s Bar, which had been a fixture in downtown Palmdale for nearly a half century, having purchased it from original proprietor Harry Robinson after he retired.
    “ How was the party?” Ava asked.
    “ Oh, it was fun. We had a full house. Tonight we’re having Prime Cut perform. More than half the tables have already been reserved.” Prime Cut was a popular local band who performed classic R&B material. They usually filled the house wherever they appeared. “You should come by for a while.”
    “ I might do that. So what brings you downtown?”
    “ I need to go by the art store. You know how we decorated the walls of the Sundowner reception area with pictures of well-known black folks?”
    “ Yeah. I thought that was a nice touch.”
    I thought so too, but so many people were grumbling about Clarence Thomas ’s picture being up, Spencer got annoyed and took it down. I have to get a replacement to fill in that space.”
    “ You mean you couldn’t come up with a picture of somebody else besides ‘Uncle’ Clarence?” Ava asked, laughing. “My father used to say he was the darkest white man he’s ever seen in his life.” It had been three years since her father had passed away, and it felt good to remember the many humorous things he used to say and laugh about them.
    “ All right, so maybe he was a controversial choice. So was Louis Farrakhan, but nobody complained about him. It’s just that I didn’t want to go too heavy on the sports and entertainment figures. We have all the people we used to learn about in school every Black History Month, plus more recent people, and of course Barack Obama. Those pictures are small, Ava, only five by seven, which is why we need so many to display. It’s hard coming up with politicians and historical figures that people recognize without having to read the fine print.”
    Ava ’s thoughts went to Hilton White. With the prominent cheekbones that gave him an almost sculpted look, he’d look great on anyone’s wall.
    She chided herself for thinking about Hilton again, for the second time in a very short period . She’d better get hold of herself.
    Then she remembered something . “Oh, Kendall, my car’s in the shop. Do you think you could give me a ride home tonight? I walked in this morning, but it’ll be dark when I leave at six, and I need to stop at the bank to make a drop.”
    “ Sure. I’ll be back at six. Maybe we can grab some dinner and chat for a while before we get tied up with Christmas and Vicky’s wedding.”
    “ Sounds good.”
    ****
    Although the young bride-to-be was fascinated with how she looked in the fairy princess gown, she said it was still a little early in the game to actually purchase a dress. She did verify with Woody that the dress would still be available in the spring.
    “ I wouldn’t be surprised if she comes back for it,” Woody said. “She looked absolutely gorgeous in it. Even her friend said so. But I suppose she does need to make sure she gets her ring first. No sense in putting the cart before the horse.”
    A number of prospective brides came in to browse . This was certainly a good season for jewelers, Ava thought as she noticed all the sparkling solitaires. But she wasn’t envious, for she knew business would pick up after New Year’s, when the spring brides traditionally came out in full force.
    She did sell one gown, an off-white tea-length lacy creation, to a woman who planned to be married for the second time on New Year ’s Day. “I was going to do the beige suit thing,” she confided to Ava, “but everyone talked me into getting a pretty dress instead.”
    “ You won’t regret it, I’m sure. Especially when you see the look in your intended’s eyes,” Ava assured.
    “ It’s lovely,