The Makeover

by Vacirca Vaughn

  Phoenix was overcome. Already she felt like a million dollars and she had not even lost a full ten pounds.

  “So that’s your evening-casual look, okay? If you’re going someplace like a movie and dinner or a casual dinner party, you could rock that.” She pulled aside several outfits for Phoenix. “Last night, I was so excited about this makeover that I started pulling clothes, shoes, bags, et cetera. I have looks here to start you off and different body shapers for different needs. I got looks for daytime formal and business-casual for work or church; daytime-casual for going out to the mall or chilling on the weekend; evening-casual like you’re wearing now; and evening-formal.” She began to unzip the garment bags. “Let’s try these on and see if we need any adjustments or tailoring, and we’ll teach you daytime makeup and evening makeup so you’ll always know how to do this for yourself. I also want you to practice walking on the heels of some of these shoes I’m about to give you. Now go wash your face off cause I am going to teach you how to put it on.”

  Phoenix nodded. All she could do was follow instructions as her heart swelled for this woman God had placed in her life.

  Two hours later, after Phoenix had tried a total of sixteen looks—four for each category— and put on her make up three different times, she got dressed again in the first outfit. She felt guilty that she had not thought about Paulo as he was dealing with her mess from the past. She wondered where he was and if he was okay. She decided that if she didn’t hear from him in a half hour, she would go find him.

  She and Cara continued discussing her new outfits and ways to mix and match them, essentially turning the new wardrobe of sixteen outfits into sixty-four. Cara had even put together a mini booklet—much like Paulo had done regarding her dieting—to assist her in accessorizing and knowing when to wear which outfit.

  Cara had convinced Phoenix to let her take pictures of Phoenix wearing various looks. As Cara uploaded the pictures onto her computer, to create an article entitled, “Funky Looks for Apples,” Phoenix tried to thank Cara again. Cara just waved her hand and said, “No thank you for being my inspiration for this week’s issue. Besides, it’s the least I could do after you gave us your bed.”

  Phoenix blinked. “Huh?”

  “Yeah. Couple of weeks ago, Paulo called and said his friend in our building was getting rid of a queen bed set and had it brought up to us. It was your bed, wasn’t it? Paulo said you got a new bed and wanted to get rid of the old. Since me and James’s big behinds have been trying to make it on a full, we jumped at the chance. Didn’t you see it when I showed you around?”

  Phoenix was already shaking her head as she walked down to Cara’s bedroom. Without waiting for Cara, she opened the door and stared. It was her bed. “Wow, I didn’t even notice. I know Paulo had gotten it out for me, but I didn’t know where it went. He said nothing about it. He just said he’d take care of it. Truthfully, I am so glad it went somewhere good because I didn’t want it to waste. I just couldn’t sleep on it anymore. But it’s practically brand new. I only got it, like three months ago.”

  “So why did you give it up?” Cara asked.

  She didn’t want her friend to be unable to enjoy her new bed. So Phoenix simply said, “I don’t know. It just wasn’t as comfortable as I’d thought. I couldn’t get any sleep on it.”

  Cara cackled. “Oh, I thought you was gonna say it reminded you of your ex, or something. Anyway, me and James sleep like babies on this bed. I like to cuddle too, but man, I want room sometimes. Thank you!”

  “No thank you, Cara, for everything.”

  They shared their hug for a moment before Cara pulled away with a grin and a mischievous look in her eyes. “I hear the bell. Can you get it for me? I have to run to the lady’s room.”

  “Sure,” Phoenix said, checking on her appearance one last time in the bedroom mirror.

  Satisfied, she raced to the door and flung it open, confident to face whoever was on the other side.

  Paulo was staggered. “Phoenix?” he said as his mouth hung wide open. “Lord, Jesus! Look at you!”

  “Don’t mind me having a makeover now, do you?” Phoenix quipped as Paulo threw his arms around her and swung her around in a circle. He hugged her close when he put her back down.

  “You look great, Sweetheart. That color suits you.” Paulo ran a thumb down her cheek. “Is that makeup? I know it’s there but I can barely tell. She did a great job and you look more beautiful than you already are.”

  Phoenix looked away.

  Paulo’s finger brought her eyes back to his. “You look very pretty. Own it.”

  With that, Phoenix broke into a wide smile and Paulo’s heart swelled. She has such a gorgeous smile. And look at her lips. Her eyes. She doesn’t even know what she has.

  And as Phoenix walked ahead of him down the hall, he noticed something else he had not seen before.

  Paulo let out a low whistle. “Bondade, olhe para essas pernas!”

  It was the Portuguese spoken in that deep voice that nearly caused her to stumble over Cara’s throw rug. “What you say now?”

  Paulo hooked his arm around the small of her back and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I said ‘my goodness, look at those legs.’”

  He grinned as she lifted out her legs to look at them.

  “Alright, y’all, break it up!” Cara came out of the bathroom with a huge smile on her face. Phoenix loved the outfit Cara was wearing as well—a pair of tight jeans tucked into leather camel boots, a large over-sized graphic tee shirt and an open cardigan with flower petals on the front. She looked youthful and fresh.

  “Hey, Sis,” Paulo said, grabbing her into a bear hug. “If I ever doubted your expertise...”

  Cara sucked her teeth. “Doubt my expertise?”

  “You did a fantastic job. God bless you for following God’s call on your life. You know not many plus-sized people are as comfortable and confident as you and James. I think it’s fantastic the way you’re helping people feel good about themselves.”

  “Well the Proverbs Thirty-one woman did clothe herself in fine linens and scarlet! How we carry ourselves is just as important as everything else.”

  “Proverbs Thirty-one woman?” Phoenix asked, confused.

  “Maybe we’ll read about her in our Bible study,” Cara said with a wink to Paulo. “Or maybe you can open your Bible tonight and look her up for yourself. God is describing a type of woman who is just like God intended women to be. It’s like an instruction manual for how women are to conduct themselves as individuals and in marriages. Check her out.”

  Phoenix nodded solemnly. “Wow, between the Song of Solomon and this Proverbs woman, the Bible has a lot to say about women.”

  “Sure does,” Paulo agreed. Turning to Cara with a smile, he asked, “Where are my two homeboys.”

  “James bought Junior to work with him today. You should have seen how they were dressed up in identical suits! I couldn’t believe he found one for a six month old, but leave it to James. And I thought I was the one into fashion,” she quipped with a smug smile on her face.

  “Please, we both know your husband has more clothes than you do,” Paulo smirked.

  “You know it. They’ll be here soon. Y’all want to wait?”

  “Um—” Phoenix began, glancing at Paulo.

  But Paulo had already grabbed Phoenix’s hand. “No. We’re leaving. Beauty like this needs to be celebrated!” Throwing Phoenix an endearing smile, he asked, “Sweetheart, have dinner with me, please?” Maybe she will finally have the confidence to go on an official date with me without questioning my intentions.

  Paulo held his breath as he watched Phoenix turn his question over and over in her mind.

  “Uh, yeah, uh, um sure,” she finally stammered, casting a wide-eyed glance at Cara.

  Cara shrugged and grinned. “Don’t look at me, Chica. I wasn’t invited!”

  Chapter 19

  Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Pr
overbs 19:21).

  Paulo decided to take Phoenix to one of his favorite restaurants.

  When they got to Paulo’s white Mercedes SUV, Phoenix whistled. “That’s your car? Wow, I’m in the wrong business.” He had the nerve to look bashful as he helped her into the passenger side.

  “You never know, Phoenix. I could use a psychologist on staff. And to have been a client that can share her testimony? God may have sent me the perfect partner after all,” he grinned.

  Phoenix refused to swoon, so before Paulo could close her door, she asked, “So what happened with Cedric?”

  Paulo winked. “Call me crazy, but I refuse to discuss another man when I’m the one trying to romance you. All eyes on me, Tesuda.”

  A wild thump pounded in her stomach. Romance me? She wanted to clarify but instead asked, “What does tesuda mean?”

  “It means sexy lady,” Paulo said with another wink before slamming her door shut.

  Phoenix swallowed and composed herself as she watched him cross over to the driver side. She grinned stupidly when he slid in beside her, his minty cologne caressing her nostrils.

  “What kind of cologne do you wear? It smells so good.” She breathed again, savoring his scent.

  “Actually, I wear peppermint oil. Keeps me cool in the summer. Something I’ve been doing since I was a child back home.”

  Huh. And I have been to how many perfume stores trying to find that scent to buy him a bottle? Should have just asked.

  When Paulo started the car, she became giddy with anticipation. As they drove down the West Side Highway towards Midtown, she asked, “Where are you taking me?”

  Paulo grabbed Phoenix’s hand and raised it to his lips, planting kisses on her knuckles.

  “Wait and see. Did I tell you how pretty you look?”

  Phoenix stared at Paulo’s profile, letting the words wash over her, as she struggled not to push them away. Finally she smiled. “Thank you. You have said it, but it’s nice to hear.”

  Thank you, Jesus. Paulo glanced at her, before turning back to the traffic. “That’s right, Sweetheart. And you should hear words like that often.”

  “So where are you taking me? And stop trying to change the subject,” Phoenix said, keeping her tone light. She loved Paulo’s words and his affection, but she couldn’t take much more. She feared her heart word burst in her chest, leaving her dead in the passenger seat.

  “Be patient. You will see when we get there.”

  They got off the highway at the West Fifty-Sixth Street exit and drove to West Forty-Ninth Street. “Yes!” Paulo exclaimed. “Thank you, Jesus, for street parking.” Gleefully, he parallel parked into a space and helped Phoenix out. “Who wants to pay twenty-three dollars for a couple of hours? Manhattan can be terrible!”

  They stood in front of a place named Plata Forma and Phoenix could see it was a Brazilian restaurant. “What’s up? You miss home?” Phoenix quipped.

  “I just wanted you to enjoy some fatty, tasty dishes from my country. You deserve to celebrate all that you’ve overcome, by the grace of God, in the past few weeks. You started a fitness regimen, you’ve gotten a new look, and you’ve already lost a few pounds.” Paulo smiled as he held out his arm and led her to the churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse. “Most importantly, you’re working through issues from your ex. I think that’s worth celebrating most of all.”

  As Phoenix thought about what she had just revealed to Cara, her heart ached with shame. She wanted to be honest with Paulo but couldn’t bring herself to do so. Instead she said, “So I lost eight pounds and I’ll gain it back tonight. I love Brazilian barbeque! It’s been such a long time, but—”

  “You know Brazilian barbeque?” Paulo interrupted, his eyes wide.

  “I love it,” Phoenix said, nodding. “I used to go to another place downtown. I look forward to this one. Everything smells great.”

  “We’re also two blocks from my church, which is on Fifty-first between Broadway and Eighth. Maybe we can come back here for lunch sometimes after service.”

  Phoenix shrugged. “Maybe. Of course you’d find a way to bribe me to go to church.”

  “You know it,” Paulo quipped, as the hostess walked over to them. “Will you come with me Sunday morning?”

  Phoenix was already prepared with an excuse, but looked into his expectant eyes and said, “Yeah, I’ll come,” before she could stop herself.

  Paulo’s quiet, “thank you” removed all of her doubts.

  Once they were seated at their reserved table, Paulo ordered two glasses of red wine.

  “You’re drinking?” Phoenix asked, arching a brow.

  “It’s a special occasion. I can have a glass of wine. Sometimes I do with dinner, every now and then, but never to get drunk. The Word warns us against getting drunk, you know?”

  “Oh okay. So do you want to go to the buffet to get our sides before they come with the steaks?” Phoenix said, already standing with her plate.

  “Boy, you don’t waste any time, do you?” Paulo chuckled.

  Phoenix’s face fell and she dropped back into her seat with her eyes downcast.

  Paulo’s grin melted away. “Phoenix? Please, Querida. I was just joking. Please don’t do this.”

  Phoenix looked up with her forehead wrinkled. “Do what?”

  “Don’t make me feel like I have to explain myself every time I make a joke. I was joking about your eagerness, not your looks, not your weight, nothing like that. Let me be myself, and I will let you be yourself, okay?” Paulo leaned forward and tilted his head, with intense eyes.

  Phoenix took two breaths and blinked back the twitch that had suddenly sprang on her left eye. She looked away as her cheeks grew hot.

  “Satan has done a number on you, hasn’t he?” Paulo mused.

  “Yeah,” Phoenix answered. “So have my mother, my two best friends, Cedric, and every person I have ever met.”

  “I don’t want us to focus on that. Tonight, we reward ourselves with food from my country and enjoy each other’s company. If I say anything that is too close for comfort for you, just kick me in the shin. That will teach me. Deal?” Paulo said, holding out his hand to shake.

  Phoenix giggled. “Deal. Can we go now?”

  But Paulo was up and already reaching for her chair. “And next time, don’t get up until I pull out the chair for you, okay? What do you think I am, an animal?”

  Phoenix stared at him for a second before nodding her consent. “Cedric never held the door, car door, chair, nothing out or in for me, ever.”

  “Like I said, what do you think I am, an animal?” Grabbing Phoenix’s elbow, he led her to the buffet that had all the sides and appetizers from almost every ethnic group imaginable. There was everything from sushi to roasted vegetables.

  Phoenix held her plate, with a question in her eyes, as she looked up at Paulo.

  Paulo, however, was already piling up his plate with rice, potatoes, vegetables, and his favorite--pão de queijo, the tasty Brazilian cheese rolls. Noticing Phoenix staring at him, he shrugged. “What are you waiting for? Eat whatever you like for tonight. Didn’t I say this was a celebration?

  Smiling widely, Phoenix began piling her plate with all of her favorites.

  An hour and a half later, Phoenix shrunk back from the meat cutter who had arrived with yet another selection of freshly barbequed steaks on skewers. “No thanks. I can’t eat one more thing!”

  Paulo, however, nodded and they watched the cutter effectively slice several pieces of meat onto his plate. “Isso é o suficiente, graças,” Paulo said, telling the gentleman that he had enough and thanking him.

  “I love when you do that,” Phoenix whispered dreamily, as she settled back against the chair, patting her belly which was now pressing against her new body shaper.

  “Do what?” Paulo said, as he chewed and quickly swallowed his steak.

  “Speak Portuguese,” Phoenix whispered in the same child-like voice, now staring at the lace tablecloth. “It sounds
so sexy,” she breathed.

  Paulo beamed before cupping his hand around his ear. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you because you were speaking to the table. Look up and speak louder, please?”

  Phoenix leaned forward and spoke to the spot between his nose and upper lip. “I said I love when you speak Portuguese...”

  Paulo nodded, refusing to let her off the hook, “Yes, and?”

  “And I said it sounds so sexy,” Phoenix said, now holding his eyes with her own, before she began to bite her lower lip.

  And biting her lower lip was what caused Paulo to be overcome with an urge to kiss her that was so strong, he lost his appetite.

  When he did not respond, Phoenix looked down again, afraid that she had made him uncomfortable. Why am I flirting with him?

  “And you know what I find sexy?” Paulo said, with his golden eyes suddenly darkening into an olive green.

  “What?” Phoenix swallowed and held her breath, listening to her heart pound in her ears.

  “Watching you bite your lip.”

  “Oh…my,” Phoenix whispered, before grabbing her wine with a trembling hand to squelch her suddenly dry mouth.

  “Yes. Oh my, indeed,” Paulo said, with his voice thickening with each word.

  And suddenly the restaurant, the food, the wine, the music, the people, the awkward shyness, all slipped into oblivion as their eyes spoke words they were not yet ready to say.

  “Want to leave?” Paulo asked, already signaling for the waiter. When he appeared, Paulo barely noticed until he heard the man clear his throat. Paulo blinked. “O cheque, por favor,” he asked for the check, his eyes still trained on the woman he was falling in love with.

  “Um,” Phoenix rose quickly, before Paulo could jump to his feet. “I’ll be right back.” She raced away from the table into the restroom. She rushed to the mirror and was pleased to find her makeup intact. She dug into her new Marc Jacobs shoulder bag and pulled out the lip liner and gloss, retouching her lips as she had been taught. She quickly pulled out a stick of gum, chewed it rapidly to freshen her breath, and spit it back out. She was about to walk back to the table when she paused.