Chapter 2
L avender rode on the wind as the door to A Little More Shea burst open. I glanced up from where I sat behind the front counter to find my brother Jayce standing there. I tried to fight my smile seeing the card and bouquet of flowers he had for me.
“Congratulations, Izzy,” he stated proudly.
I stood from my seat, rounding the corner as he approached. I clasped my hands in front of my body fighting back tears.
“Aww. Thank you, brother.” My lips poked out as he handed me the gifts. “These are so pretty.”
I beamed at the yellow roses. I placed them on the counter then opened my arms for a hug. I inhaled his woodsy scent and felt right at home. Something stirred in my chest… Truth was, being away from home was harder than I thought it would be. I needed my village more than anything. No amount of success replaced the truth in my heart.
Being back home receiving hugs from the people I loved most was better currency than any amount of money my business made. We released each other, and he began taking a tour.
“This is dope as hell, sis. I know you’ve found online success already, but opening your own store is a major flex.”
I flexed my arms, showing off the little muscle I had. Jayce chuckled heartedly.
“Don’t hurt ’em now.”
I giggled, walking over to straighten up a shelf of body butter. A Little More Shea was my heart. After heartbreak chased me away from home and a terrible eczema flare-up due to stress, I had to find something to channel my whirlwind of emotions. I was so afraid that if I didn’t keep busy, I would be lost in oblivion for the rest of my days. It wasn’t an option, so the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me was created.
A Little More Shea started off as a passion project but quickly morphed into more as I became more knowledgeable and obsessed with the craft. Healing came in many forms, and I liked to believe I did God’s work with my products. They were moisturizing, hydrating, and smelled amazing. I was positive my scent Bend Ova was responsible for the births of a few brown sugared cutie pies.
Shifting from a strictly online business to being a brick-and-mortar store came with its own struggles and commitments. Over the last two months I have been back in Rosewind, I spent most of my time ducked off either at home or here creating the perfect ambiance for my visitors. The shop wasn’t large, which gave it an intimate and homey feel. I kept a diffuser blowing essential oils to help promote relaxation and peace while shopping.
I walked back around the desk to get back to sifting through the influx of online orders we received. I was thankful for the team I’d built to help make running my business easier. The promo my graphic designer rolled out was doing what it needed to. By the end of the month, A Little More Shea was projected to clear another six figures. I was so grateful money wasn’t an issue for me. How the fuck would I have survived poverty and grief at the same time? I wouldn’t have, and that’s why God made a way for me to be the successful business owner I was today.
“Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing?”
Jayce’s voice caused me to momentarily lift my head to find him talking to my employee, Becca. I shook my head, focusing on my work when my phone screen lighting up caught my attention.
I picked it up to find a notification of a Facebook message. My body froze when I saw the name.
Rashad Arlington: What’s up sis! It’s been a while. I heard you were back in town and wanted to meet for lunch. Here’s my number 803-235-5659.
I sat there unable to move, feeling disconnected from my body as my heart started to race. My greatest fear about returning home was now a reality. The whole point of flying under the radar was to save myself from having to reconnect with anyone from my past, especially those attached to my old lovers.
“So, you remember my homeboy, Shyheim, from when we lived in Temple Hills? Well, we reconnected, and he lives here too. I told him about your shop. He’s having an issue with his daughter I felt like you could help him with.”
I knew Jayce was talking, but I didn’t make out a word he was saying. I was too lost in my thoughts. Would seeing Rashad be a good idea? What could we possibly talk about now that the person who brought us together was long gone? I couldn’t shut my brain off if I tried.
Jayce walked up to the counter when I didn’t respond and leaned across it.
“What’s wrong?”
Never one to miss anything, of course, he’d pick up on the shift in my mood. I shook my head while placing the phone face down on the counter.
“Nothing.”
I gave him a fake smile, hoping it was believable. It seemed to work because his face relaxed as did his posture.
“Now, what is it you were saying?”
He drummed his fingers on the counter.
“My homeboy is going to swing by for your help.”
I nodded still halfway hearing what he said because that message had thrown me completely off. How could he have known I was back? We didn’t run in the same circles. Hell, I didn’t run in any circles, but he knew…
“Okay, cool,” I finally replied.
Jayce was looking at me crazily again, so I had to play it off.
“You hungry? I could go for some lunch.”
* * *
I wanted this day to be over. When I got back from lunch with Jayce, the shop was jam-packed. Thankful for the distraction, I jumped into action, helping where I could. Now, a restock of the shelves was needed. So, I was keeping busy with that to keep from thinking.
It was an hour until closing time, and I couldn’t wait to make it into the safe bubble of my home. Becca was supposed to close, but she had to help her little sister who was stranded with a flat tire. I jumped at the opportunity to stay and keep busy until I was forced to face my feelings.
The bell above the door jingled as someone pushed inside. I was down on the bottom shelf adding jars of body butter, so I couldn’t see who it was.
“Be with you in a second,” I called out before continuing what I was doing.
A husky voice broke through the silence piquing my interest.
“Take your time, ma’am. My homeboy Jayce told me to check this place out. My baby girl is suffering from a bad flare-up of eczema, and I need something to help take the pain away.”
His voice sounded, so desperate I prayed I had a solution for him. Hearing my brother’s name had me standing to check this stranger out. When I turned, he was glancing up at one of the shelves hiding most of his face. He was six foot two and had bulging biceps, even though his hands were tucked in the pockets of his black Dickies. When he finally turned to look at me, I saw the emblem of Rosewind Fire on his right side and understood his body reflected the physical strength and endurance of someone who worked a physically demanding job.
Ledisi’s “Alright” flowed through the speakers of the shop. I would know those hooded hazel eyes and bushy eyebrows anywhere. Even though it’d been years, his face was still buried somewhere in the back of my mind. I was always curious about the boy with pretty eyes who loved to play pranks on me with my brother.
“Shyheim?” I hesitantly called his name.
His eyebrows knitted together in the middle of his smooth forehead before recognition flooded his features.
“Island?”
I smiled with a nod. “That would be me.”
A dazzling smile morphed his hardened features into a gentle, mouthwatering masterpiece. Shyheim had skin the color of milk chocolate with a curly fade and deep dimples in his cheeks. His nose was slightly crooked with pink, full lips that looked like they were soft outlined by a thin mustache and short goatee. Dressed in his uniform, I couldn’t lie and say he didn’t look damn good. Heim was always a little troublemaker, so I was happy to see he’d done something good with his life.
“Come give me some love, girl. It’s been forever.” His request caught me off guard, yet I somehow found the bravery to cross the distance and walk right into his spread arms. He squished me into his wide chest, causing me to stiffen. I hadn’t felt the touch of a man that wasn’t related to me in a long time. His touch coupled with his smoky scent awakened desires in me I never wanted to feel again. I stepped away quickly.
“So, uhh… What are you doing here?” I questioned him, ignoring the skeptical look on his face.
He ran a hand over his soft, curly black hair.
“Jayce told me you might be able to help me.” I realized this must’ve been what he was trying to tell me earlier when I was zoned out from Rashad’s message. Shyheim reached into his back pocket for his phone.
“I have some pictures.”
He stepped closer, once again, popping my bubble of safety. I inhaled slowly, trying to keep it together. An image appeared on the screen that made me want to cry.
“It’s gotten so bad, and nothing is helping. Please, tell me you have something in here that can save my baby from her misery.”
The desperation in his tone had me looking from the picture to his face. He looked so helpless it pulled at my heartstrings. Nothing had been able to do that in a long time.
“Poor baby,” I whispered with a shake of my head. “I know what that’s like. Do you have another photo?”
Of course, he did. He was a man on a mission. She was suffering from eczema in all the nooks and crannies on her body. I knew she was going through the worst kind of hell. Eczema felt like your skin was on fire. No baby should have to experience that pain.
Stepping away from him, I drifted to one of the shelves. Searching through everything I had for sensitive skin, I debated on what would be best. Once I found my healing ointment, I called Water Lily , I headed back over. I handed him the jar with a warning.
“Now, I can’t make any promises, but I believe this should help.”
Hope sparked in his eyes as he accepted the jar, examining it. “I’ll try anything at this point. I’m desperate.”
The corners of his mouth folded down. When he glanced back up at me, those hazel pools were wet with worry.
“She cried herself to sleep last night. I never want another night like that again.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, showing signs of stress. His hope fell on my shoulders like a ton of bricks. His attractiveness was making it hard to think or even breathe. I dropped my eyes quickly, unable to handle his hope but knowing I couldn’t turn away from helping them.
“I understand. Come on. Let me check you out.”
He followed me to the register. His shadow overpowered mine because of how tall he was. I ignored how intriguing that was to focus on the task at hand—getting him out of my shop and away from me. I took the jar he handed to me and quickly scanned the barcode.
“Who would’ve guessed your worrisome tail would become someone’s daddy,” I teased. “I hope she is not half the trouble you were.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Right. I never thought I’d see the day, but now, I can’t see life without my Smiley.”
The smile on his face stretched from ear to ear. His affection for her was palpable.
“But nah, my baby is an angel, and I don’t know why. She got a ho for a mama and then me. We both know I strayed away from the angel path a long time ago.”
“Her mama can’t be that bad. You had a baby with her.”
He frowned deeply. “I never said I was smart.”
I didn’t want to laugh, so I slapped a hand over my mouth to stifle it. I cleared my throat once I gathered myself.
“I’m glad you think that’s funny. You better be lucky I need to get to my baby, or I’d bend you over my knee for that.”
His words sent a chill down my spine in the worst way. I couldn’t understand why my body was having such a visceral reaction to him.
“I don’t want any problems, sir.” I focused on bagging the jar and then handing it off to him. “I pray this can bring baby girl some relief.”
He nodded. “I do too. I’ll be testing it out soon as I get home. Thank you, Izzy.” He began backing away slowly. He looked as if he wanted to say more but settled for, “It was nice seeing you again.”
I offered a closed-mouthed smile and waved. I exhaled heavily once he released me from the trance his hazel orbs sucked me in. I placed a hand over my racing heart to regulate my breathing. If one thing was clear, it was that I needed to stay far the hell away from him. He was injecting rays of light into a world I very much wanted to keep pitch black for the rest of my life.