Licorice Whips

by Bridget Midway

  She started to turn when she heard the store door opening again. When she returned her gaze to that area, she saw the employee coming back out this time with a heart-shaped box of chocolates in his hand.

  As much as she didn’t want to, as soon as Nikla saw this gorgeous man carrying a box of chocolates, her heart fluttered. From his grimace, she knew he wouldn’t be giving her a treat out of the kindness of his heart.

  “Here. Have a heart.” He handed her the candies. “Come back here again, and I’ll be back out here with you. You’re not going to destroy this business.”

  Nikla held onto the box but couldn’t take her stare off the man.

  “Now go pick up Miss Tinkerbelle or Lulu or whatever you call your little powder puff of a dog and let the people who want to work do just that.” He turned his back on her and strolled back into the store.

  Determined not to let him have the last word, Nikla approached the door. As she held her hand over the handle, she stopped. Until she looked at her hand, she didn’t notice that she’d been shaking.

  Nikla struggled to catch her breath.

  Stop it. Breathe, damn it. Breathe.

  Nikla recognized her unstable body reaction and tried arresting her out-of-control breathing quick enough before it disabled her. She wanted to chalk up the response to her simmering anger. The whole idea of her going into this place scared her to her core, so much so that she pounded her fist against the door to get the man’s attention.

  Through the glass, she saw him turning around along with other customers milling around in the colorful place. When she connected to his stare, she held up the box then dropped it to her feet.

  She smiled—or rather smirked—back at him as she turned around and headed to her car. For the past few weeks, she’d been coming to this store and trying to get people to stop shopping there, an impossible feat considering with Halloween approaching. She wouldn’t give up. Hopefully her father would see that and be proud.

  Nikla jumped into her car and locked the doors in case some other overzealous employee decided to confront her. Her cell phone played the opening of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.”

  Nikla answered the call. “Hi, Dad.”

  “What are you doing?”

  Nikla sighed. “I’m fine. How are you doing?”

  “Don’t get cute.” The former Marine’s voice shot through the phone.

  Sarcasm equaled insubordination to Lawrence Dearwood.

  Nikla found herself getting more direct with her father. He hoped he would have respected her need to have a backbone.

  “Are you home?”

  Nikla closed her eyes and said a curse in her head. “No. Right now I’m sitting in front of a candy store and passing out fliers to get people to stop going.”

  Her father said nothing, a first for the normally outspoken military man.

  To fill in the void, Nikla kept talking. “Now I’m on my way to work.”

  This time her father released an audible sigh. “If you worked with me, you and I could be together more.”

  Although she loved her father, and she had gotten used to his brand of tough love, she couldn’t imagine working side by side with him every day. The fact that her father could be a tough taskmaster had nothing to do with her decision.

  If he wanted Nikla there because he wanted that bonding relationship with her, she would want to work with her father. She knew he had other reasons for keeping an eye on her.

  “You know the old saying, Dad. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Nikla started her car.

  “Are you at least coming over for dinner?” Desperation, a foreign tone from her father, laced his voice.

  Nikla’s heart ached, but she knew what being around him would do to her spirits. She would support her dad in any way she could. She didn’t know if she could hold her ground with him.

  “Can I get a rain check?” Nikla clicked her seatbelt then checked her mirrors before pulling out of her spot.

  She brought her gaze down and looked directly into the Decadent Treats store. Nikla spotted the employee she’d had a confrontation with moments ago staring at her. She believed him when he said that each day she protested he would be out there with her. A part of her looked forward to the fight.

  “Tell me a day you’ll be by the house. Unless I pin you down on a date and time, I’ll never see you.” Lawrence cleared his throat.

  “Dad, you know that’s not true. I’ve just been busy with work and everything. But you know I always have your back. I’m always supporting you.” She hoped he understood and believed that.

  “Date and time, young lady.”

  Her father’s deep voice didn’t get to her like the Decadent Treats employee. Just thinking of his voice raised goose bumps over her arms.

  “Fine. I’ll see you this weekend.”

  “Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?”

  Nikla backed out of her spot and gunned it out of the parking lot. “I’ll have to check with–”

  “With who?” her father asked, interrupting her. “No one should be more important than family, right?”

  Nikla thought about the changes happening to her father, to her family, right now. She and her father had encountered a lot of disappointments recently. She had to give him something.

  “Sunday breakfast like we used to when I was a kid.” Nikla smiled at the memory. “I’ll make you breakfast this time.”

  “Fine. See you at oh-six hundred.”

  Lawrence disconnected the call before Nikla could argue about the early breakfast time. That must mean that her father wanted to do a morning run with her. Now she would be able to keep up with him.

  Before she could wrap her mind about her standing Sunday date, she had to think about work. Good thing her job relaxed her as well as challenged her.

  ****

  Nikla placed her hand on one of her student’s backs as the woman tried sitting up on her yoga mat on the floor. “Very nice, Ashley. Breathe through it.”

  Nikla had to keep from screaming each time it hit her that she headed up her own class. She should have told that cocky guy who thought her only value had been to be the owner of a little yippy dog and be some guy’s arm candy about her job and how much she loved it. Then again, he had been right on the money when he accused her of being on her way to a Pilates class. He’d been close. Today she taught yoga.

  Nikla had done a lot with her life, one thing being heading up this class. The fact that the class she taught happened in a Virginia Beach recreation center didn’t have her patting herself on the back. Not just yet.

  Baby steps. She would have to save her money so that one day she would have her own business just like her father. She even had the name. “Transformations by Nikla” had been a dream since she learned about Pilates and yoga during her freshman year of college when the pesky “freshman fifteen” packed on top of her already hefty frame.

  “This is so hard.” Ashley puffed. “I thought yoga would be easier on me.”

  A couple of other students in the class nodded in agreement. Even with the door closed to the room, Nikla still heard the squeaking of sneakers and the pounding of basketballs over the center’s two basketball court floors.

  Her dream studio would be quiet and private. It wouldn’t have a large, open glass window that would allow people walking by to see clients working out. She understood how trying something new for some people would be a bit daunting and embarrassing.

  Nikla held her student’s hands. Sweat covered Ashley’s pale hands, which came as an encouragement to Nikla. It meant that Ashley had pushed herself during the workout. She couldn’t wait to see her client’s transformation over the next several weeks.

  “Yoga is gentler on your joints than, say, aerobics or traditional weight training. But it’s also an exercise. Judging by your hands and shirt, it looks like you put in a good day’s work. Be proud of yourself for pushing your body so hard. It’s the first great step to health.” Nikla had to tell herself these sa
me positive affirmations when she decided to get healthy.

  Once she reached her goal, she wanted to make sure to be everyone else’s cheerleader who wanted to make a change.

  Ashley pushed her red hair from her face and smiled. “If you say so, Nik. My body is hating you right now.”

  “Mine, too,” another student chimed in with a smile.

  “You won’t be getting a Christmas card from my body this year.” A third student flopped onto her back and put her hand to her chest.

  Nikla laughed. She helped Ashley ease back down to the floor. “When you reclaim your health and get back down to a healthy weight, your body will thank you and me.” Once Nikla had Ashley flat on her back, she walked over to the front of the class. “End of the class, ladies.”

  A few of them applauded.

  Nikla turned the music up a hair. “Lie on your back. Close your eyes and inhale deeply.” She enjoyed sending off her students feeling both challenged and relaxed. “I have orange oil. As I come around to you, let me know if it’s okay if I can rub it on your temples.” Nikla retrieved a small vial of orange oil from her workout bag, then padded back over to her students starting with Ashley.

  “May I rub the oil on your temples?” Nikla asked Ashley.

  Ashley nodded.

  Nikla smiled as she knelt down behind her client’s head, then dabbed some of the slick oil on her fingertips. The refreshingly clean scent of oranges wafted up to her face.

  She used to use a vanilla-scented essential oil. When her students complained that after a session with her they went to their closest cinnamon bun eatery for a sweet and sticky treat, she changed the scent to something more citrus-like.

  “Deep breath in, hold it, then breathe out.”

  Her students did as instructed. Nikla observed Ashley’s larger frame. In her, she saw herself years ago, so lost and feeling out of place in a world that had little tolerance for people who didn’t carry a stick-figure frame.

  “You all did an amazing job today.” Nikla rubbed the soothing oil on Ashley’s temples.

  “I feel like I’m not keeping up a good pace with everyone else.”

  Nikla shook her head even though with Ashley’s eyes closed, she wouldn’t have seen the expression. “The great thing about yoga and Pilates is that they’re not exercises that you need to do in the same pace with other people. This is all self-paced. You move your body in the way you feel comfortable.”

  Nikla crawled on her knees over to the next student and gave her a similar head massage. The low Indian music that Nikla had playing in the background helped foster the calming environment. She noticed that her students’ breathing started to slow down from a panting breath.

  After attending to all of the students, Nikla returned to the front of the class. “Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach.” She watched her students to make sure they all complied. “Pay attention to your breathing. Feel your heart beating. Remember that this class, this session, this workout is all for you. This will probably be the only time you’re allowed to feel selfish.”

  Nikla wished she could heed her own words and advice. She thought about others first, sometimes without thinking of her own needs.

  “Breathe in.” Nikla took in a deep breath along with her students. “And exhale. Let go all of your tensions and frustrations from the day. Let the calm wash over your body and fill your senses. Allow this tranquil feeling to last you throughout the day.” When the music stopped playing, Nikla opened her eyes. “Great work, ladies. See you all on Friday.” She sat up and put her hands together in prayer form. “Namaste.”

  The class repeated the salutation back to her and started to put their shoes back on and gather their mats and towels. Nikla turned on the lights as the students started leaving one by one. Ashley remained the last straggler in the class.

  “I’m so glad my friend told me about this class. I love your workouts.”

  Nikla smiled. “Wonderful. Please tell more friends. I’m hoping one day to have my own studio.” She knew the uphill battle in starting a new business, especially one dealing in physical fitness.

  “Oh, wow! Please tell me when that happens. I’ll be the first to sign up. I can’t imagine you wouldn’t do well.” Ashley smiled. “Have you found a place to set up?”

  Nikla smiled. “No, not yet. I’m still trying to find a good spot.”

  “You should check out the new downtown area.” Ashley raised her eyebrows. “Pricey, but there’s a huge apartment complex and a hotel down there. You would do amazing. Of course you’re going to have to teach a lot more classes or hook up with a sugar daddy to get a place in that area.”

  Yes, Nikla knew that for sure. She’d gotten prices for other locations and thought they were a bit out of her range, but reachable. She would have to teach classes twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to earn enough for downtown Virginia Beach. Nikla liked dreaming. Couldn’t hurt to check it out.

  She knew the calculated risk to setting up shop in a costly area of Virginia Beach. The move would either catapult her into greatness or spiral her down into extreme financial failure. The idea of the two extremes hit her like an imploding building, levels upon levels falling on her until she had to take in a deep breath to bring her back to reality. She could make this business work. No way around it.

  Ashley scanned Nikla. “I can’t wait to look like you one day.”

  Nikla laughed. “You will be the best version of you. It took me a long time to get to this point. I will help you in your journey.”

  Ashley shook her head. “I still think you’re lying about being fat.”

  “I would never lie about being overweight. Trust me.”

  As much as she wanted to forget those years of her life, Nikla tried learning to embrace her past. Her struggles helped shaped her life now. Not the teasing from her classmates. Not the repeated rejections from guys she wanted to date. Not the look of disappointment from her father at how undisciplined she’d been.

  “See you later, Nikla.” Ashley walked out of the room just as Nikla’s best friend bounded into it.

  “You ready for lunch?” Deana trotted over the hardwood floors in her killer black leather heels.

  As usual, her friend decked herself out in a black-and-white dress that looked like it came from a designer. She topped the look with a white leather crop jacket. Now Deana looked like a kept woman.

  With great reluctance, Nikla slipped into her flip flops. If she had her way, she would live her life in bare feet.

  “Let me just grab my bag and we can go.” Nikla put on her wraparound sweater then a jacket before she slipped the strap of her gym bag on her shoulder.

  As she approached Deana, her friend shook her head. “You are so cute. Why would you walk around looking so dowdy?”

  Nikla scanned her outfit. “Did you forget that I just did an hour-long yoga class? I can’t come in here in some ball gown and heels.”

  “Are you saying that if given some time, you have a better outfit in your bag that you can change into right now?”

  When Nikla didn’t respond, her best friend rolled her eyes.

  “Come here.” Deana grabbed Nikla’s arm and faced her to the wall-to-wall mirror. “Look at yourself.”

  Nikla scanned herself. Standing next to Deana, she couldn’t help but compare herself to her. Although both black, Deana’s skin tone carried a slightly darker hue than Nikla’s burnt honey complexion.

  Nikla kept her shoulder-length dark brown hair up in a bun whereas Deana kept her black tresses in its natural state, full of waves and curls with a white flower pinned to the side.

  Even though Deana wore heels, Nikla still towered over her. In her black yoga pants and conservative top, she didn’t match the style of her friend.

  “So?” Nikla shrugged.

  “You could be so much hotter.” Deana put her arm around Nikla’s waist.

  “Why do I need to bother to look hot when I’m teaching a class with all wo
men and I already have my man?” Nikla cocked her head toward her friend.

  “Oh, is that a dig?” Deana tilted her head. “I like dating. But, I must admit, you sure did pick your man well.”

  “Yeah, well, thank you.” Nikla’s boyfriend, Justin, had been stable and kind.

  At this point in her life, Nikla needed both. Once in a while, though, she would have liked a nice surprise from him. She would check to see if Justin would go with her to her father’s house on Sunday. He would be a great distraction to keep her father from concentrating all of his criticisms on her.

  She knew Deana liked Justin for more than his good looks and his manners. Justin’s family had a lot of money. The money never factored into Nikla’s feelings toward him. She learned a long time ago to do things on her own. That didn’t stop her helpful nature from peeking through.

  Before leaving, a bubbly trainer bounded into the room. Karen smiled as she hopped over to Nikla.

  “Hey, Nikki.” Karen held both of Nikla’s arms as she smiled at her.

  Nikla smiled back and didn’t bother correcting her coworker with the use of the nickname. “Hey. Just stepping out for lunch.”

  “Okay.” Karen volleyed her attention between Nikla and Deana. “I won’t hold you up. I was hoping you would step in for me later today in my aerobics class.”

  Nikla cocked her head. “I haven’t done an aerobics class in years, not since I was a sophomore in college, and that was almost ten years ago.”

  “Come on. You’ve seen me do my class. You could wing it.” She patted Nikla on her shoulder like a buddy.

  “I don’t think students pay to have a teacher winging a class. Ask Victoria. She does that intense boxing class.”

  Karen winced. “She scares me.” Then she giggled.

  Nikla started to say no, when Karen took a step closer to her to gain eye contact.

  “Please?” Karen nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’d help you out if you ever needed it.”

  “Why do you need the time off anyway?” Nikla crossed her arms over her chest.

  Karen smiled as she glanced away. “Don’t tell anyone but I have this incredible date with this really amazing guy.”