“I forgot to say ‘bye.’” He gave me a quick hug and whispered, “Love you, Mom.”
I smiled. “I love you too. Good luck today.”
“Thanks! Bye!” And he was gone.
* * *
I put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and yelled to the girls to get moving. I finished up and as I was wiping down the counter, the girls came barreling into the kitchen.
“Got your swimsuits?” I asked them.
They nodded, and I continued, “Sunblock? Hats? Extra socks?”
“Yep! We’re good to go!” Jessie answered for them both.
I nodded and grabbed my purse and car keys. “I like your hair, Magpie.”
“Me too! It’s nice and cool. Long hair is too hot in the summer.” Maggie returned.That was something Brian told them every year. She pushed open the front door.
“Well, I like my long hair. It’s prettier.” Jessie sniffed.
I waited until she had walked past me and down the stoop stairs, then pulled the front door closed, making sure it was locked.
“Whatever. How would you know? You’ve never even had short hair.” Maggie said.
I left the two of them to argue it out as they buckled themselves up, and I shut the van’s door.
I went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. The girls were still going back and forth, but as long as there was no bloodshed, I figured I’d let them. I started the car and backed out of the driveway.
“Oh, Mommy. Turn this song up. Please!” Maggie begged.
I turned up the radio a little bit. I didn’t recognize the song, but it was obvious the girls knew it because they started singing along and dancing in the back seat. When the song was over, the DJ said it was time for “Classic Rewind” and Culture Club’s “Time” came on.
“Oh, I love this song!” I said, and started to sing along.
“Gross! What is this?”
“Yuck. This is bad music, Mommy.”
The girls complained from the back seat, but I ignored them. I sang along, bobbing my head and smiling as they made faces at me in my rearview mirror. A few minutes later, I pulled up to the park and got out of the car. The girls were ahead of me and already running to the group of kids assembled on the bleachers. I went to sign them in and told the young man sitting at the table that Sam would be picking up the girls. He nodded at me, and I waved to my girls as I walked back to my car. They waved energetically back at me and went back to their friends.
* * *
About 20 minutes later, I pulled up to Bee’s house and hopped out of the van. She was outside with her little dog, and she smiled at me.
“Mornin’, lady. How’s it going?”
“It’s going. How are you?” I asked in return.
Percy ran up to me, and I bent down to pet him. He jumped on me and seemed happy with the attention. Bee motioned me to come inside, and I stood up. Percy followed at my heels, and we went into the kitchen.
“I’m good. Though Karie told us some rather shocking news last night.” Bee didn’t seem too stressed out.
“Well, I’m assuming it isn’t an unplanned wedding or pregnancy. So what’s up?” I pressed.
“She’s decided to go back to school.”
I put my coffee cup down. “That’s a good thing, right?”
Karie was a smart, funny, beautiful, young women, but after high school she decided that college wasn’t for her. Anthony didn’t take too kindly to that, and it was a real source of friction between the two of them. Karie did work, and about six months after high school graduation, she moved out and got a house with some girls that she worked with. To be honest, I think Bee was happy about that. She had been tired of constantly mediating Anthony’s fights with their daughter.
“I guess. She said that she’d pay for it, and she’s actually been taking classes at the community college for the past two semesters. She’s doing really well.”
“She’s a smart girl. Is this a career move? Was she bored? What’d she say?”
“She said that she just felt it was time to get serious about her future. She doesn’t want to be a waitress forever, so she stayed up late one night and really thought things through. She’s decided that she wants to be a veterinarian.”
“No? Sam’s working for that vet over on Pine. How weird is that?”
Neither of us thought anything of it. We enjoyed our coffee, made plans for the weekend, and talked.
“I’m going to get my hair cut. What do you think?” I asked Bee, picking my hair up off my neck.
“About you getting a haircut?” Bee deadpanned. “Awesome.”
I laughed. “No, I mean... what do you think I should do?”
“Do what you want, but do something drastic. Something wild.” Bee was getting into it now. She reached over and took a chunk of my hair in her hands. “What about that whole ombre thing that’s popular?”
“Hmm...” I was considering it. “Why not? Who’s that girl from Glee? The one that plays Rachel?”
“Lea Michele!” Bee filled in. “Yeah, like hers. That would look great on you!”
I took my hair in my hands and looked at it. “You don’t think it’d be too... much?”
“No! Do it! It’s fun. It’s summer, and you would look hot.”
I nodded, warming up. “Yeah. I’m gonna do it. Come with me!”
Bee jumped up. “You bet. I could use a deep conditioner. Let’s go!”
“I don’t have an appointment. Think we can get in?”
“Honey, it’s 10:30 on a Sunday. We can get in. You drive. I’ll dial.” Bee already had her phone in hand.
By the time we got in the car, Bee already had our appointments made.
“Okay, head to Fusion. Oh wait. Do you need to get the girls?” She asked.
“No. They’re at Sunday school camp, and Sam’s going to pick them up.”
“He’s such a good kid. And that means we have the whole day, right?” Bee had a gleam in her eye.
“Yeah, I guess. Why?”
“Well, Anthony is going to take Ant and Jimmy fishing.” Jimmy had spent the night at their house last night. “Sam has the girls. Carey’s working, so... it’s just you and me. Let’s get our hair done and call Amy to see if she can meet us for lunch. Then we can do some shopping.”
I nodded. “Do it.”
Bee texted Amy, who immediately texted back saying she would meet us at Miller’s Crossing in two hours.
* * *
Bee and I made small talk as I drove to the shopping center. Bee was right. It was pretty quiet.
“Church hasn’t let out yet,” I guessed.
“Yep. So let’s get our hair on, and then Amy’s gonna meet us at Hot Cross Buns.”
“Oh, no! I’m going to have to do an extra mile at the gym tomorrow,” I complained, but I was already anticipating a fresh cinnamon bun and some hot coffee.
“Yeah, but it’s so worth it!” Bee put her arm through mine, and we laughed as we headed up to the salon.
“Ladies!” We heard as we opened the door to Fusion Salon and Spa.
“Romeo!” Bee left me to give the man that called to us a kiss on the cheek.
Romeo, which, in my mind, couldn’t be his real name, was a tall, thin man with jet black hair. It was stylishly cut and hung in his eyes—on purpose of course. He was dressed in loud colors—green, skin tight jeans and a bright pink button-up. And yet, it all worked on him. He was good at what he did, and his loyal clients sung his praises. Bee loved him. Me? I wasn’t picky.
“Okay, who’s first, and what are we doing?” Romeo inspected me with a critical eye.
I wanted to hide behind Bee.
“Oh, Julie. Don’t hide. Let me see what I’m working with here.”
I walked over to him, feeling like a child being chastised.
“Woman, what did you do to your hair?” He clucked at me. “I know this isn’t what I did the last time you dragged yourself in.”
“I know!” I was sur
e I was about to be grounded. “I just needed a trim—”
“And? Where did you go? The mall?” He scoffed, and then saw my face. “You did!”
He hustled me over to his chair and sat me down. “Sit. We need to fix these ends, and then how about some color? Ombre?”
I gaped at Bee. “Really?”
“He’s a magician... and possibly psychic. What can you do? Told you not to go to that chop shop in the mall.” Bee teased.
“Stop ganging up on me.” I was pouting, but didn’t care.
“Okay, gorgeous. What are we doing today?” Romeo asked Bee. “Not that you need anything done.”
For a second, I preened, thinking he was talking to me. The gorgeous should have been my first clue.
“Just a protein treatment,” Bee responded. “I have an appointment later this month.”
“See,” Romeo jostled me. “This is how you take care of your hair. You need to pay attention.”
“Yes, sir.” I wasn’t joking. Romeo took his work seriously. I guess that’s why he could afford to charge a hundred dollars for a haircut and upwards of $175 for color. But it was time to do something serious with my mop, and if I was going to get it done, I wanted it done right.
“Beezu. BEEZU!”
I wasn’t sure whom Romeo was calling, but a tiny girl ran out from the back, out of breath.
“Yes, sir?”
Is she serious?
“I need you to wash Julie’s hair here. Pay special attention to her scalp. Give her a thoroughly relaxing scalp massage. Use the special conditioner. When you’re done, I want her to be crying tears of joy, and I want her hair ready. Understand?”
Beezu nodded and took me gently back to the sinks. I heard Romeo clucking to Bee about being a better friend and NOT letting me go to some cheap place that’s going to ruin my hair.
“Okay, Mrs. Julie. Have a seat, and just let me know if the water’s too warm.” Beezu told me.
What is with the names in this shop?
“Just call me Julie, Beezu. And thank you.”
She got to work, and 15 minutes later, I was about to cry tears of joy. Whatever Beezu did to my head, I was feeling no pain. I felt relaxed, almost high.
As I slipped her a ten, I told her, “It was worth more, Beezu.”
She winked at me and situated me in one of Romeo’s chairs. In a few minutes, another impossibly tiny young woman came to ask me if I wanted something to drink. I said I was good, and she walked away.
“Okay, so... your cut? Just a trim, right?” Romeo asked me, as he held up the ends of my hair for inspection.
“Yeah, I don’t think I want to get rid of the length. I like being able to pull it back.”
“Bangs though, right? I think that will make you look younger—sexier. Though let’s be real, with that skin of yours...” He trailed off, and I beamed under the praise.
“You know what? Do whatever you want!” I said bravely. “I’m ready.”
“Yeah?” He smiled at me, a twinkle in his eye. “You are going to look stunning. Trust me. BEEZU!”
Beezu came running up with a large piece of cardboard. She covered the mirror and walked away with a smile.
I didn’t see Bee, but her purse was on the counter, so I knew she was around somewhere. Romeo got to work.
* * *
“You look good, Julie,” he told me—his voice had lost the edge of sarcasm it usually held.
“Thanks. I’m starting to feel good too.”
He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. “You’re holding it together. When Jake died, I couldn’t get out of bed for almost a month. People kept telling me it was a blessing that he had passed. I wanted to punch them in the throat.”
I remember Bee telling me that Romeo’s partner Jake died a few years ago. He had cancer, though she didn’t go into many details.
“Exactly!” I nodded in agreement. “It got to the point that if one more person told me he was in a better place, I thought I was going to hit them.”
“Yep. In the end, I think I knew that Jake’s dying was a blessing. He was so sick, but I wanted him with me, you know? Maybe that makes me selfish.”
I shook my head. “Don’t give me that bullshit!” I said, perhaps more vehemently than I meant to. “If that makes you selfish, so what. Jake was your husband, your partner. You deserve to have him with you.”
Romeo wiped away a tear. “Lady, you get it.”
He kissed me on the cheek and got back to work. He talked about Jake, and I talked about Brian for a bit more. I reminded him that he cut Brian’s hair for Sam’s high school graduation.
“Oh my god! You’re right!” He laughed. “Your husband was one sexy man, Julie. He kept telling me to cut it like his wife wanted it. I thought he was going to cry when I told him I didn’t know what that meant.”
I laughed. “Yep, that was him! He didn’t understand why I told him to come here instead of the barbershop near our house.”
“I hope you told him to shut his mouth. Barbershops? Horrible places!” Romeo laughed with me. “Your husband had great hair.”
That sobered me up. “He did, didn’t he? All the kids have hair like his.”
“But you know what? Brian would love seeing you like this. Smiling, laughing, beautiful. I could see how much he loved you when he talked about you. He told me that he wouldn’t do this for anyone else—not anyone else in the world. And he would hate to see you unhappy.”
Coming from anyone else, that would have upset me. Well, maybe Bee and Amy could get away with it, but Romeo had been there. I looked at the counter in front of me, and I saw a picture of a younger Romeo. Next to him was a handsome man with a shock of red hair. They were at Disney World, and both men had mouse ears on. My gaze gravitated toward Jake’s eyes in the photo. Romeo was looking at the camera. But Jake was looking right at Romeo, and you could see the love in his eyes. I had pictures of Brian and I like that. He hated having his picture taken, and he told me over and over again that if he was going to look halfway decent, all he had to do was look at me.
I took Romeo’s hand, and he stood back for a second, looking down at me. “I promise, not to ever let anyone else touch my hair again. I swear.”
He looked at me and winked. We understood each other. We had both lost the love of our lives. It was a shitty club to be in. “You better not, or next time I’ll hurt you.”
We laughed, and I settled back. After that, the talk turned to more fun topics. Movies, music, who was better looking. Chris Hemsworth—as Thor of course? Or maybe Joe Manganiello from True Blood?
“Really? Is it even a contest?” Romeo asked me.
“Umm... of course it is! You’re just wrong!”
“Umm, no. Thor is a god for crying out loud. Bee, weigh in on this.”
She walked over—her long, black hair was glossy and shiny. Bitch.
“What am I weighing in on?” She asked.
“Thor or Alcide?” I asked her.
“Idris Elba.” She answered.
“Oohh... good one.” I had to give her that. “He’s a god too. I think.”
“No, we can take that up at a later time. If you had to pick.” Romeo pushed.
“If I had to pick... Alcide.”
That’s my girl.
“Ha! I told you...” I did a little wiggle in the chair, and Romeo gave us dirty looks.
“What are you two smoking?” He deadpanned. “You are both obviously high.”
I gave Bee a high five. “You are a bitch, you know that?”
Bee raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You were beautiful before we got here, and I don’t even know what you had done. Probably nothing. And you are like glowing. It’s unnatural.”
“Julie. If you only knew how beautiful you are. If you only knew.” She sat down in the chair next to me and opened a magazine.
I sat for another 30 minutes as Romeo fussed around me. Finally, he was done.
“Okay, are
you ready?” He asked.
“I’m ready.” I was starting to get antsy.
“Now listen. One thing. If you don’t like it... if it won’t work for you, say something. It won’t hurt my feelings. I won’t get upset. Just tell me so I can fix it for you. Okay?”
“Deal.”
“I mean it. I want you to promise.” He urged.
“I promise. I promise! Show me!” I was getting excited.
“Okay.” He moved the cardboard covering the mirror, and I wasn’t sure who was looking back at me.
My hand went to my mouth. “Oh my. Oh wow.”
Romeo had cut thick bangs and layered the pieces around my face. My hair was straight, but full... and the color. I had okay hair to begin with. It was a nice brown—Brian used to call it chocolate. But now? It was shiny, and when I moved my head, I could see the lights bouncing off of it. Romeo had done the ombre coloring effect, so my hair went from a rich brown to a dark blonde.
“I look so pretty.” I breathed, and I think I actually felt tears. “I look so pretty, Bee!”
She laughed “So you like it?”
“I love it.” I looked at Romeo like he had just performed a miracle, and I got up and hugged him. “Thank you so much. I needed this.”
He hugged me back and whispered in my ear. “If you let anyone else touch your hair, I’ll kill them... and probably you.”
I promised again and turned to stare at myself some more. I hadn’t felt like that since before Brian died. I felt pretty. I felt like a woman again—not just a mom.
“You look amazing,” Bee marveled. “I have seriously never seen you look this good. I told you he’s a magician.”
“I know. I can’t believe how much I love this haircut. Whatever this costs me, it’s worth every penny!”
“Oh, no charge,” Beezu said to me as I got to the desk.
“Wait... what? That can’t be right.” I said. Romeo had just spent the better part of two hours working magic.
He came up behind me and gave my shoulders a quick squeeze. “Nope. No charge. You needed this, Julie. You’re ready to hold your head up again, to smile and laugh. I remember the first time I realized that without feeling guilty. If I can do anything to make someone else feel that, it’s worth it.”
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