Family Ties

by Lydia Rose

  “Just some woman I met when I was picking up dinner.”

  “What’s her name?” Ellen asked not letting her off the hook.

  “Donna.” Christina answered knowing that was Jenna’s middle name.

  “What does she do?”

  “What is this fifty questions? The relationship is new. We’ve only had dinner together.”

  “Okay, okay. I want details when you are further along,” Ellen said wiggling her eyebrows.

  Christina bid everyone good night and left the salon without a glance in Jenna’s direction.

  “It’s too bad,” Mary said. “My friend thought Christina was so hot.”

  Jenna grinded her teeth to keep from speaking up.

  “Chris must really like this girl. She always shares information, but this time she clammed up,” Ellen said shaking her head.

  Jenna’s jaw unclenched for a moment, but she knew she was going to have to do something quickly. How long was Christina going to stay in her self-imposed closet before she ran out of Jenna’s life?

  As soon as Jenna got into her car, she called Christina.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi. I’m sorry, Christina. I know you don’t like lying.”

  “Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

  Jenna could feel Christina’s anger. “Can I see you tonight?”

  “I’m tired, Jenna.”

  “Okay. I understand.” Jenna heard the line go dead. You’re going to lose her you idiot.

  *

  The next day didn’t get any better for Jenna. Christina kept her distant and they barely said two words to each other.

  At lunchtime, Jenna went to her car to make a phone call. “Hi, Stella. It’s Jenna Walton.”

  “Hey, Jenna. How are you?”

  Stella had been one of Jenna’s sexual trysts. “Stella, are there any hair salons that are for sale? I’m not interested in a building. Just the business.”

  “What about your mother’s place?” Stella asked not understanding.

  “Stella, I want to live my life. I’m involved with a wonderful woman and I won’t make her stay in the closet with me.”

  “Let me do some research, Jenna. I’ll get back to you.”

  “Thanks, Stella. I appreciate the help.” Jenna went back into the salon and to get her lunch out of the refrigerator in back. When she walked into the back room, Christina was there eating lunch. Jenna sat down next to her. “Are you ever going to speak to me again?” She asked with a glance at the doorway.

  Christina looked at Jenna. “Yesterday bothered me, Jenna. I thought I could do this, but.” Her voice trailed off.

  “I know it did and if you go to dinner with me tonight, I’ll explain what my plans are.” Jenna took her hand under the table.

  Christina looked at Jenna skeptically, but nodded in agreement. She wadded up the remains of her lunch.

  “I’ll pick you up at six,” Jenna said before Christina left the room.

  *

  Once they were seated and the order placed, Christina asked. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “I called a realtor friend of mine. I asked her to see if any salon’s in area are for sale.”

  “You’re going to buy your own place?”

  “I’m going to try.”

  “You don’t want to talk to your mother first?” Christina asked softly.

  “I know what my mother would say if I told her about you. She’d tell me to get out of the shop and take you with me.”

  “How is she going to keep her business if you aren’t there to run it?”

  “I think she would rather close up then let me stay.”

  “Is your mother that insensitive?” Christina couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “You’ve met her. You know I no longer have a sister and brother because of her.”

  “Will you take Ellen and Terry with you?”

  “Yes and Mary and Tammy.”

  “What about me?”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “I’m doing this for us, Christina.”

  “Why, Jenna? We haven’t been dating that long and.”

  Jenna held up her hand to stop Christina. “I wanted to be alone with you when I said this, but I’m in love with you, Christina.” Jenna sighed. “Maybe you don’t love me yet, but maybe you will someday.”

  Christina smiled and got out of her seat. She knelt next to Jenna and whispered. “I love you too. If I didn’t think you’d freak, I’d kiss you right here.” She squeezed Jenna’s hand.

  “Oh, excuse me,” the waitress said bringing their plates. “Did you lose something?”

  “I thought I did, but it’s okay now,” Christina said standing up.

  They ate the meal quickly as they were anxious to be alone.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “Shit,” Jenna mumbled as she saw her mother headed to the front door. She glanced at Christina and nodded toward the door.

  Jenna was cleaning up her station pretending she didn’t notice her mother’s entrance.

  “Jenna, can I have a moment?”

  Jenna shuttered that her mother was asking permission instead of summoning her. “Of course.” Jenna followed her into the back room.

  “I thought you were dating Tom,” Agnes said squinting her eyes.

  “We’re friends, mother. I’ve told you that before.”

  “I saw him with his boyfriend in a restaurant last night.” Agnes moved closer to her.

  “How do you know it was his boyfriend?”

  “I know disgusting behavior when I see it.” Agnes poked Jenna’s chest. “Don’t lie to me.”

  “Just because someone is different from you, they’re disgusting.” Jenna shook her head. “I won’t have you speak that way about my friends.”

  Agnes poked her again. “You better not be carrying on with his type of behavior.”

  “If I was, what are you going to do, mother. Throw me out of here?” Jenna slapped Agnes finger off her chest.

  “Without a thought,” Agnes said trying to poke Jenna again, but she was too fast and stepped back.

  “I guess you’re prepared to run this place by yourself?” Jenna knew their voices were no longer quiet and her staff most likely were listening to their conversation. The only good thing was, the clients were gone.

  “I’ll close the shop before I allow a deviant to work here.”

  “That’s all I wanted to know,” Jenna said as she walked out of the back room.

  Everyone averted their eyes when Jenna walked back into the room. No one had left because they couldn’t get their coats without walking in on them.

  “Sorry, gang. Don’t worry about your jobs. I have a plan,” Jenna said before her mother breezed back in and went out the front door. Once Agnes left, she told the staff. Thankfully, Margaret and Amy weren’t there to report back to Agnes. “I’m looking into getting my own shop. I hope you’ll all follow me.”

  Ellen and Terry looked at Christina. They looked at her with question wondering why Christina had gotten them into this situation.

  “Yes, Jenna, we will all come with you,” Christina said putting her arm around her.

  “Us too,” Mary and Tammy said.

  “Wait a minute,” Ellen said pointing her finger. “This is all because of you two. Isn’t it?”

  Christina and Jenna nodded smiling at each other.

  “So, Jenna is the woman you said you were seeing?” Mary asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve already called a realtor about finding a place for me. As soon as I can do that, we are all out of here.” Jenna hoped her enthusiasm calmed her employees.

  “Are you taking Margaret and Amy with you?” Ellen asked with a smirk.

  “Hell, no,” Jenna said. “My mother can have them.”

  The remark caused a group laugh. Everyone packed up their things and went home for the evening leaving Jenna and Christina alone.

  “Suppose we get here in the morning and your mother
has locked us out?”

  “I think we still have time. She doesn’t know I’m dating you.” Jenna offered.

  “Dating? I thought we were more than that.” Christina grinned.

  “Come in the back and I’ll show you how much more you are to me,” Jenna said with a wink.

  Before they could get into the back room, Jenna’s cellphone rang. “I have to take this it’s Stella the realtor. Hi, Stella.”

  “Hi, Jenna. There aren’t any stand-alone hair salons for sale, but would you be interested in a shop with a house? There’s a listing that has been set up with six chairs and three sinks. The house is separated by a breezeway from business. It’s a two bedroom cape that has been updated. I’ve seen the pictures, it’s real cute.”

  “The big questions are, where is it and how much?”

  “It’s not far from where you are now and since there is a house, we can get you great financing.”

  “How much, Stella?”

  “The owner is asking $675,000.00, but it’s a divorce and they are anxious to sell.”

  “When can I see the property?”

  “Do you want to see it tonight?”

  “Hold on a second, Stella.” Jenna covered the microphone. “Do you want to go look at a property tonight?”

  Christina nodded. “Yes.”

  “Stella, what’s the address and what time?”

  “I’m near your shop. I can pick you up in ten minutes?”

  “We will be ready.”

  “We, huh?” Stella asked with a chuckle. “Can’t wait.”

  “So you’re really going to do this?” Christina asked touching Jenna’s arm.

  “Yes.” Jenna looked at Christina. “Don’t you want me to do this?”

  “Jenna, I don’t want you to do anything that you are not comfortable in doing. Right now you have no debt and earning a living.”

  “Yeah, earning half of what I should be earning. Do you know that my mother wouldn’t even put half the business legally in my name?” Jenna sighed. “She has always held this business over my head. Telling me that one wrong move, I was out.” Jenna kissed her lips softly. “You made me realize I don’t want to live like this anymore. That I deserve better. I deserve a life with you to live free.”

  Christina smiled widened. “I love you so much, Jenna.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart.” They kissed again and then heard Stella beep her horn. “Time to go,” she said taking Christina’s hand.

  Jenna made the introductions and Stella drove over to the property.

  “How do you to know each other?” Christina asked from the back seat looking at the red head sitting in the front seat.

  Stella glanced in the mirror and then to Jenna.

  “Never mind. I don’t want to know,” Christina said holding up her hand.

  Jenna turned in her seat. “Christina,” she said softly.

  Christina held up her hand again. “That’s the past, Jenna. It doesn’t matter.” She grinned. “As long as that is all in the past.”

  “I plan on seeing no one, but you.”

  Christina looked at Jenna’s eyes and knew she was telling her the truth. She could see love and desire in those smoky brown eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Christina.”

  “If you lovebirds can tear yourselves away from each other, we’re here,” Stella said with a laugh. “Let’s go see the business first because if that doesn’t work then the rest doesn’t matter.”

  Stella opened the door to the business and turned on the lights.

  “Wow,” Jenna said walking into the building. “Look, Chris. We can do manicures here and this place has everything we need operate.” They walked toward the back. “Look a waxing station.” Jenna walked into that room. “I’ll have to hire someone.” She turned to Christina. “What do you think?”

  Christina’s eyes were wet with emotion. “It’s perfect, Jenna.”

  “Let’s go see the house.” Jenna took Christina’s arm and followed Stella next door.

  There was an enclosed breezeway that connected the two buildings. Stella opened the door and flicked on the light switch. Jenna and Christina walked into the living room. You could see right through to the back of house. There was a dining room and large kitchen. Stella led them down a hallway.

  “This used to be two bedrooms, but the owner made it a master suite.”

  The room was a good size and there was a walk in closet and master bathroom. Everything appeared to be recently updated.

  “There’s one more bedroom upstairs with a small room that can be used as an office.”

  Jenna and Christina followed her upstairs. They came back down the stairs again.

  “So what do you think?” Stella asked.

  Jenna looked at Christina. “What do you think, Chris?”

  Christina’s held her hands palms up and said. “I think you will be very happy here.”

  “Stella, can I think about it overnight?”

  “Of course.”

  “So you think I can get the financing I need to buy this place?”

  “Yes. I talked to our financial person in the office. Based on what you’ve been earning and the money you have as a down payment.” Stella smiled. “Peter didn’t see a problem.” Stella began turning off the lights in the house. “Let me take you ladies back to the salon so you two can get home.”

  “Why don’t you go home and I’ll pick us up dinner?” Jenna suggested after saying goodbye to Stella.

  “You have to feed Blondie. Why don’t I pick up the food and I’ll meet you at your apartment?”

  “Will you stay over tonight?” Jenna asked almost pleading.

  Christina nodded knowing she had already packed an overnight bag. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

  They went their separate ways and Jenna worried that Christina wasn’t as excited as she hoped she would be.

  While they ate, Christina questioned Jenna again.

  “Jenna, are you sure you want to take on all this debt?”

  “Honey, I’m not thinking about it as a debt, but rather an investment. I was left money when my dad died and it’s been invested ever since. Most of what I’ve earned has gone into the bank. Christina, you don’t need a lot of money when you don’t have a life to spend it on. There is more than enough money.” Jenna reached for Christina’s hand. “I can do this if you’re with me.”

  “Of course I’m with you. I just don’t want you to resent me in a few years that you took on too much.”

  Jenna lifted Christina off the chair and led her to the living room couch. “I’m so excited for this adventure. I need to be out from under my mother’s scrutiny. I need to feel alive.”

  “How are you going to keep your mother in the dark until you can pull this off?”

  “I’ll take her to dinner next week and apologize for my behavior. You have to realize, she doesn’t think I have the courage to leave her.”

  “Do you have the courage to never have a relationship with your mother again?”

  “Chris, I don’t have a relationship with her now.”

  “Have you ever tried to find your brother and sister?” Christina asked taking Jenna’s hand.

  “I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t. I wouldn’t know how to go about it.”

  “Have you tried Facebook?”

  Jenna shook her head.

  “Get your laptop,” Christina said going back to the dining table. “Are you on Facebook?”

  “No. Just the Salon.” Jenna admitted.

  Christina logged in using her account. “What is your sister’s name?”

  “Hailey.” Jenna answered. She watched Christina typed in Hailey Walton.

  “Are any of these women your sister?” Christina asked turning the screen to Jenna.

  “No. These women are too young.”

  “Okay. Maybe she’s married. What is your brother’s name?”

  “Ted. Theodore.”

  Within a few minut
es, Jenna recognized her brother. “That’s him,” she said giggling.

  “Let’s send him a message.” Christina had her hands on the keys. “What do you want to say?”

  Jenna sat there a moment. “I don’t know.”

  Christina began typing. Hi, Ted. I’m a friend of your sister Jenna. We just found you. Here is Jenna’s email address if you would like to get a hold of her.” Christina typed in Jenna’s email. “Should I tell him that you are trying to reach your sister too?”

  “Please.”

  Christina added the note to pass Jenna’s email address onto Hailey if he knew how to reach her. “Okay.”

  “Now what do we do?” Jenna asked.

  “You wait and see if either one of them contact you.”

  “I sent Stella a text telling her I would meet her in the office tomorrow morning to make an offer on the property we saw. Once I know the offer has been accepted, I’ll start working on my mother to keep her off balance.” Jenna lifted Christina off her chair and took her in her arms. “Thank you, Chris. Thank you for everything.” She held Christina back. “I’m sorry that we’re going to have to act like we’re nothing at work.”

  Christina brought their bodies back together. “It’s only for a little while.”

  “Well, what shall we do now?” Jenna asked with her finger on her chin.

  “I think we can find something to keep us busy,” Christina said as she ran for the bedroom.

  Each time they made love, it was more intense. They made love as if they had been making love for years. Their bodies melted together in passion and lust. It was the best of both words for them.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The offer was accepted and now Jenna went to work on keeping her mother from finding out what she was doing. Jenna still hadn’t heard from her brother or sister, but Christina assured her that it didn’t mean anything. She told her to be patient, but the closer she got to her dreams, the more anxious she got.

  “Hello, mother,” Jenna said as her mother opened her door.

  “What are you doing here?” Agnes asked unpleasantly.

  “I came to apologize for my behavior last week.” Jenna was clenching her teeth trying to keep the smile on her face.

  “I am still not happy that you are friends with Thomas.”

  “Mother, he’s just a friend. You know I don’t have many friends.”