Dex: I date. But, no, I’m not in a committed relationship.
It was the truth. I should probably be committed after the last two days, but my relationship with Caroline was open. We served a purpose for one another—attending required business functions and providing sexual gratification. Don’t get me wrong—I liked Caroline, and I was pretty sure she liked me. But neither of us wanted more from what we had.
Bianca: Would you like to have children someday?
Dex: Not so fast, Ms. George. I believe you’ve skipped my turn. Are you in a committed relationship?
Bianca: No. I was, but it ended.
Dex: What happened?
Bianca: Long story. I’ll give you the abbreviated version. Stockbroker. Engaged. Liar. End of Engagement.
Fuck. I needed to know more. This didn’t sound like it would bode well for me.
Dex: What did he lie about?
Bianca: I’ve already answered two questions. I believe you’re now the one who is skipping turns.
Dex: Fine.
What was the last question she asked me? Oh, yes. Children. It dawned on me that I’d been seeing Caroline for the better part of a year and she’d never inquired about whether I saw my future including a bunch of rugrats.
Dex: Yes. I do want children. But I don’t want them raised by a nanny. I loved Sugie, don’t get me wrong, but I think children should be raised by their parents, if it is feasible. My turn. What did your fiancé lie about?
Bianca: Everything. Anything. You name it. He lied.
Dex: He was cheating on you, then?
Bianca: No. I don’t think so. He just lied. To clients, to our boss, what his bank balance was, it didn’t really matter. In hindsight, I think he got off on it in some ways.
Dex: So this factors into your dislike for rich and powerful men?
Bianca: Maybe. I’ve never thought about that. But I don’t think my dislike of liars is related to only rich men. My father wasn’t particularly rich and he lied. I just prefer the simple things in life—like the truth.
My hole I had dug for myself had just bottomed out, and I had no idea how I was going to get out of it unscathed. The smart thing would have been to stop playing this game right now, but of course I didn’t. I continued for more than an hour answering and asking personal questions. The more I asked, the more addicted I became. I wanted to know everything there was to know about Bianca George. When we were wrapping things up for the evening, her last question brought me to a moment of truth.
Bianca: My deadline is at the end of the month. I’d like to finish this interview in person. We’ll continue our 11PM chats in the meantime, but I’d really like to meet face to face at least once. No pictures, of course.
I hesitated before responding.
Dex: Okay. Yes. We can meet at the end.
Shit.
Not even wetting my wood helped.
Tonight was my date with Bianca, and I hadn’t been able to whittle a fucking pencil, much less an animal. Clement, my little blond nemesis as I’d come to think of him—the ten-year-old from the YouTube video—had to be a ringer. Because this shit was not easy. Frustrated and calling it quits, I put down the carving tool and decided Bianca wouldn’t be getting a small wooden animal. I, however, was getting that kiss one way or the other.
Later in the afternoon, my phone chimed, announcing a new text had arrived. Bianca’s name illuminated on the screen. I immediately swiped to open.
Bianca: Where are we going?
Jay: I made reservations at an Ethiopian place.
Bianca: Mmm. Which place? I’ll look it up. I want to know how to dress.
It didn’t matter how fancy the place was—it could have been a roadside trailer, and my answer would have been the same.
Jay: Wear something sexy.
Bianca: I can do that. ;-)
Jay: Good. I look forward to it. See you in a few hours.
Bianca: Okay. Don’t forget my carving—I’m looking forward to our exchange.
“To Dumbo, Sam.” I climbed into the backseat.
“Brooklyn? Sure thing, Mr. Truitt. Where are we heading?”
I grumbled. “Anchorage Place. The Brooklyn Flea.”
My secretary had printed out a map, but it wasn’t doing much good once we arrived. There had to be at least a hundred tents set up as I wandered around trying to find booth G45. When I’d asked Josephine to locate a shop that sold small wood carved crafts—such as animals, I was certain she thought she was witnessing the first signs of my nervous breakdown. I was starting to think she was onto something.
The Brooklyn flea market was apparently home to a number of handmade and unique crafters—one of which was a gentleman who also sold his wooden carvings on a website, Jelani’s Kenyan Krafts. Just my luck, Jelani also sold his wares at the flea market, which happened to be open today instead of just Sunday this week, since it was the Dumbo Heritage Festival.
Eyeing a long table at the end of an aisle I’d just turned down, I was relieved to see a tall, black-skinned man wearing a colorful African hat and holding a carved wooden cane. As I came upon him, I saw that his table was filled with small, hand-carved animals. Mentally, I made a note to give Josephine a raise when I returned on Monday.
I perused the selection of carvings—admiring the beautiful craftsmanship. A week ago, I would have passed by and not taken the time to appreciate the work that had gone into these pieces—the skill and patience that they represented. But now, I was impressed by Jelani’s work.
“These are beautiful.”
“Thank you. Are you looking for a gift?”
“I am. For a woman.”
“Ah.” Jelani nodded like he understood. That makes one of us. He held up a small walrus. “Perhaps you can chose one based upon the special lady’s spirit animal. The walrus is the keeper of secrets.” He set it back down on the table and picked up another one. It was a billy goat—with two horns at the top of its head that curled back and then rounded back to the front. “The billy goat animal totem’s lifestyle is about power. It’s independent, strong and intelligent. They are curious, yet picky.”
“I’ll take the goat.”
Jelani smiled. He rang me up and slipped my purchase into a small brown bag. Handing it to me he said, “Watch out for the billy goats—their horns are strong enough to impale you if you cross them.”
Great. Just fucking great.
Caroline was not a happy camper that I’d cancelled our date to the banquet. I’d told her I wasn’t feeling well, probably the first time I’d ever used the sick card in my life. But being here with Bianca was worth it.
She was wearing a fitted, brown dress that exposed one shoulder. The color brought out the caramel in her eyes and complemented her raven-colored hair. She was a dark beauty.
Of course, while Dex knew the answer from earlier conversations, Jay had to ask, “What nationality are you?”
“One-hundred percent Greek. You?”