Blinding Mirror

by Shelley Halima

  When she was eight-years-old and visiting her mother, an incident occurred that resulted in a change in visitation. Still hungry from the light dinner she was given, she snuck downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat. She saw the remaining portion of the cake from dinner that everyone was allowed to have a slice of except her. Just as she was leaving the kitchen with a slice of cake wrapped in a napkin, her mother came in. She made her hand over the napkin. Once she saw the contents, she told her to sit down at the table. Her mother then removed the cake and a container of milk from the refrigerator and placed them in front of her. Her mother sat down and told her to eat. When Sofia asked for a dish, utensils and glass, her mother said, “No, pigs don’t use those things.” She didn’t know what to do and sat looking at the cake. Her mother hit the table hard with her hand and demanded she start eating.

  “I’ve been trying to save you from being a fat pig but obviously that’s exactly what you want to be so I’m going to let you! Now eat and eat with your hands!”

  Tears began to trickle down her face and with trepidation she broke off a piece of the cake with her fingers and put it in her mouth.

  “Oh no, fatty. You can do better than that. Now grab a nice chunk with your hand.” When she hesitated, her mother shouted, “Do it!” She did as she was told. The cake was a bit dry and she opened the milk and swallowed some down. After eating about three handfuls, which paired with being frightened by her mother’s demeanor, she began to feel ill.

  She asked her mother if she could stop because she was feeling sick. She was told no and that she wasn’t going to stop until all the cake was gone. After another mouthful she held more cake in her hand but couldn’t muster up the will to eat it. Her mother demanded her to eat but she just couldn’t. Her mother jumped from the chair and rushed over to her. She stood looking down on her with such hatred and disgust; it made her cry even more. Her mother raised her hand as if she were going to slap her. Her hand paused mid-air for a few seconds before she balled it to a fist and put it back to her side. Then she grabbed a handful of the cake herself and screamed for her to open her mouth.

  Her mother proceeded to stuff the cake into her mouth–gagging her in the process. She grabbed another handful and smeared it all over her face. Another handful went into her hair. Her mother didn’t stop until all the cake was gone and all over her. She couldn’t hold it in any longer and she threw up. Vomit spewed onto the table, floor and her nightgown. Her mother said for her to stay put in the chair and proceeded to walk to the sink and wash her hands. She heard her mother leave the room. A few minutes later she returned with her sleepy-eyed sisters. They became wide-awake when they saw their sister. Her mother stood between them with her hands on their shoulders.

  “See what a filthy, disgusting pig your sister is? Look at her and look at her good. You don’t ever want to be like her. Do you?”

  They didn’t say anything at first.

  “Do you?” Their mother prompted them again. Her sisters both shook their heads in response. “Isabella, go get Miss McCullough and tell her we have a mess that needs to be cleaned up in the kitchen. And you, Sofia, go upstairs and take a bath. Hurry up before I change my mind and make you stay like that!”

  She quickly got up from the table and dashed from the room to upstairs. After she had cleaned up and changed her clothes and got into bed, she cried herself to sleep.

  When she got home, her father knew something was wrong but she didn’t tell him what. After a few days she finally broke down and told him what happened. He stared at her for a while not believing what he’d heard. He called Isabella into the room and asked if she knew what happened the night of the incident. She told him their mother woke up her and Lourdes and brought them down to the kitchen and Sofia was covered in cake and vomit. He asked what their mother said to them after she brought them down and she told him. He grabbed Sofia and brought her to his lap. He hugged her tight and kept saying he was sorry. She didn’t understand why he was crying and apologizing for something her mother had done. Her father took her face in his hand and turned it to him. “I promise, nothing like that will ever happen to you again. Okay? Never.” She gave him a long hug.

  After that she and Isabella weren’t allowed to see their mother for a while. However, Isabella begged their father and eventually he relented. He said they could no longer visit their mother out of state though. Visitation could only take place at the house in Buckhead he’d purchased for when Olivia and Lourdes came to town. And they could only visit under the supervision of Mrs. Hopkins who relocated from California with them.

  Sofia turned on the hot water tap to warm up the cooled water. It was a lot more than the cake incident that caused the estrangement with her mother. Mrs. Hopkins being present during the visits didn’t deter her mother from making a verbal jab at her size. But it was the overall sense of disapproval and lack of emotional warmth from her mother that caused their estrangement. Although Isabella understood why their father did what he did in regards to the visitation, Sofia always sensed her sister resented her for the restricted time with their mother.

  Their mother never taunted or blatantly mistreated Isabella but she wasn’t given much attention from her either. It was almost as if she wasn’t there. Sofia saw how that lack of attention from their mother made Isabella seem to want it even more. To this day she was constantly trying to curry her favor by sending extravagant gifts. And always tried to appear as perfect as possible–not wanting to do or say anything her mother would disapprove of. One of the reasons Isabella disliked Lourdes so much was envy. She would do anything to have been the one who lived with their mother instead. She was so caught up in gaining their mother’s approval and love, she couldn’t truly appreciate that it was what their father lavished on them. All Sofia could do was hope one day her sister would finally realize that them not being raised by their mother was not a misfortune but an infinite blessing. Something told her however that this realization would come at a heavy price.

  Chapter 44

  Sofia entered Bonança Bay and punched in the alarm code for the security system. She then proceeded to go through the spa to prepare for the day’s clients. The spa was she and Grace’s pride and joy. It was something they had envisioned since they were teenagers. While most girls were out partying or chasing boys they were huddled together planning out their future business endeavor. She shared her ideas with her father and he as always, encouraged her. Grace was more adept at numbers and business plans while her forte was creative ideas such as the design layout and decoration as well as choosing products. She and Grace wore many other hats and obtained licenses in massage therapy and nail care and could step up in a pinch if needed.

  They both were determined to not just be a couple of rich girls mooching off of their family’s hard-earned money and they wanted to make their own marks in the world. Grace’s father was a world renowned neurosurgeon and her mother ran four Jamaican restaurants located in Georgia. Mrs. Toussaint also came up with her own special organic jerk sauce that was sold nationwide in both chain and independent grocery stores. The two young women felt they had to live up to what their parents had achieved. Allowances they received from their parents went into a joint account they opened up specifically for their business. Even though it was their parents’ money that helped fund their venture, they wanted their determination and business acumen to be what kept it afloat. Sofia could have held off opening Bonança Bay until she received her inheritance this year but she didn’t want to. She didn’t plan on touching that money any time soon unless it was necessary. Their long-range plan was to open spas across the U.S.

  The spa turned out just as she and Grace envisioned. The décor consisted of tile, stone and woods and the colors throughout were calming neutrals. Wall water fountains were placed in many of the rooms. They served refreshments such as a variety of teas, cheeses, fruit, crackers and wines. Near the front of the spa was the shop area where clients could purchase hair and skin products
and custom-made signature oils and lotions. Though the clientele was mainly comprised of women, they did have a separate area where women could bring in their boyfriends or husbands for pampering.

  A few minutes later, one of the masseuses Zahira, entered the shop. She was about five-six and despite an appetite that could rival a Sumo wrestler, she was quite slender. She was a raven haired beauty of Chaldean descent who moved to Atlanta from Dearborn, Michigan a few years before.

  “Good morning, Sofia!” she chimed.

  “And how are you this beautiful over the hump day?”

  “Just great! I finally got the okay to move into the condo.” She made the thumbs up sign.

  “That’s wonderful! I know you’ve been going crazy waiting for that tenant to leave.”

  “After they paint, I’m in there.”

  “Oh, Grace had a doctor’s appointment. She’ll be in later.”

  “How’s Isabella? I called her line last night but she didn’t answer.”

  “She’s still a bit under the weather. I told her she should take another day off before she goes back to work.”

  “Oh. Well, I hope she gets better. I feel so bad because I know she caught that bug from me.”

  “Not necessarily. Almost everyone I know has gotten it. By the way, we got a new shipment of Aveda products so get ready to put your employee discount to use.”

  Zahira clapped her hands.

  “You know that stuff is like a drug for me.”

  By mid-morning a stream of clients had begun to come in. Most of the women who frequented the spa during weekdays were either housewives or executives who could take off from work mid-day.

  Grace entered carrying a basket of fresh croissants from a nearby bakery. Grace stood two inches shy of six feet but there was nothing gawky or awkward about her. Her name suited her, for she embodied the grace of a gazelle. She didn’t just walk into a room as much as glided into it. She began ballerina lessons at the age of four and was one of the top dancers in her class. Even though a growth spurt during the span of a summer prompted her teacher to inform her she no longer had a chance for prima ballerina status, she still to this day took classes for enjoyment. Her skin was dewy perfection the color of dark cinnamon, which was contrasted nicely by black micro-braids that cascaded down her back. Penetrating almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones and sensual full lips that many women sat through collagen-filled needle shots to obtain accentuated her pretty face.

  Although she’d lived in the United States since she was a pre-teen, she still had a bit of a Jamaican accent and her words were peppered with lingo from the island.

  “Good morning, ladies!”

  “Good morning!” Sofia, Zahira, and a couple of women waiting for treatments replied.

  “How are you?” inquired Sofia.

  “All fruits ripe,” she responded as she set the basket on a cart. “And yourself?”

  “I’m all right. I called last night to tell you about the samples I tried out from this new company but all I got was your voicemail.”

  “Girl, you know not to call me when Tapestry and Love Tales is on. By the time I checked my phone and called you back I got your voicemail.”

  “I guess last night was a bad night for people trying to get in touch with one another.”

  “How did you like those samples that came in?”

  “I left some in the office for you to try out. I think they’ll be a hit.”

  “I’ll have to check them out. Sofia, I just learned some news. Mrs. O’Reilly is closing her shop next door. She wants to retire and move back to Massachusetts. She’s already purchased a home on Martha’s Vineyard so she’s for real this time.”

  “Really? Is someone taking over her business?”

  “She said no because she doesn’t trust anyone to run it as she did. She plans to be gone in the next few months.”

  “I’m going to miss her!”

  “I will miss her, too. But do you know what this means?”

  “No.”

  “Remember how we were talking about how nice it would be to expand and add a separate area for a hair salon?”

  “Yes! We could have it right next door instead of trying to build onto our place.”

  “Exactly! Maybe knock down that wall.”

  “I already got one hairdresser y’all can hire,” said Josie, one of the nail techs sitting nearby.

  “Do tell,” said Grace.

  “My cousin Odell is leaving Detroit and coming back here soon. Honey, that boy can do some hair! Grace, you know that actress from that show you’re crazy about Tapestry—the one that plays Veronica?”

  “Yes.”

  “He did her hair for her wedding.”

  “Get out of here! You never told me that! I saw those pictures in Essence. He did a beautiful job.”

  “I thought I told you, Grace.”

  “No, I would’ve definitely recalled something like that. So he knows Nikki Moreno?”

  “He knows her and her cousin Rosie from before they moved to Hollywood. He’s good friends with them.”

  “Well, once we get this off the ground tell him to come and talk to us.”

  “I sure will.”

  “Excuse me,” interrupted Suzy, one of the employees who did waxing. “I’m sorry to interrupt.” She took Sofia and Grace each by an elbow and guided them away from the ears of the customers. “We have a problem.”

  “What?” asked both Sofia and Grace.

  “It’s the new girl. She has Mrs. Thompson’s eyebrows almost looking like Whoopi Goldberg’s.”

  “But Whoopi doesn’t have any eyebrows,” replied Sofia. Then in an instant it hit her exactly what Suzy meant. “Oh!”

  Sofia and Grace exchanged distressed looks.

  “Let me take care of it,” Grace volunteered.

  Sofia gave her the crossed fingers sign and headed toward the office.

  A short time later Grace entered the office she and Sofia shared. She closed the door, put her back to it and heaved a dramatic sigh. She walked to her desk fanning herself.

  “Was Mrs. Thompson upset?” inquired Sofia.

  “First of all, that Emily is going on pedicure duty for a while. I had to offer Mrs. Thompson some free services and show her how to fill in her brows with shadow until they grow back. Oh, I forgot to tell you something. No sooner than I receive a slice of cake from my cousin Monette’s wedding, I get a call this morning from my other cousin Teja that she’s now planning her wedding.”

  “To whom? Not that guy she just met!”

  “Oh yes. When Monette announced her wedding plans last year, Teja tried her best to drag her ex down the aisle to race Monette to the altar and ended up running him off in the process. She’s been on the hunt ever since and now she’s got that ne’er-do-well to agree to marry her. And of course he would. He needs a roof over his head. Her red eye is going to be her undoing. Her parents are trying to talk sense into her but her ears hard.”

  “I’m having the same situation with someone whose ears hard. Isabella. My mother and sister are on their way here from the south of France.”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “Right. We’re going to have dinner with them on Friday at seven so I’ll be leaving a bit early to get ready.”

  “Hmm. They’re coming to get an early seat at your big birthday, huh?”

  “Thank you! I tried to tell my sister that’s why they’re coming back but do you think she listens?”

  “Sweetums, stop telling. She’ll learn. Time is longer than rope. Nuh, true?”

  “I know. And quite frankly I’m tired of talking about it. I’ll try and let it go.”

  “Don’t just try. Do! For your own sanity if nothing else.”

  “You’re right.”

  “But of course,” Grace replied with a wink.

  Chapter 45

  Sofia and Isabella followed the hostess to the table where their mother and sister were waiting. Olivia stood to greet them and gave a discreet nudge to Lourd
es to do the same but she remained seated.

  “Hello, my darlings!” Olivia gave them each a warm embrace. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Lourdes made a slight coughing noise and looked away.

  “And how are you, Lourdes?” Sofia inquired as she took a seat.

  “I’se just fine and y’all?”

  Sofia and Isabella gave her cold stares.

  “That is so old,” remarked Sofia.

  “What is?” Lourdes gave her an innocent glance.

  “You know what. That stupid accent you put on whenever you come here. You’ve done that ever since you were a kid. The thing is you’re an adult now so start acting like one.”

  Lourdes’s pseudo-innocent look quickly faded into an irritated one.

  “Girls please,” Olivia implored. “You’ve barely been in each other’s presence two minutes and you’re already at one another’s throats. Can we please have a nice, warm reunion over dinner?”

  Lourdes took out the compact from her purse and checked her perfectly made up face. Olivia tapped Lourdes’s foot with the toe of her shoe in a covert signal. Lourdes put her compact away.

  “I’m sorry. I was only teasing and meant no harm.”