Blinding Mirror

by Shelley Halima

  Still, it took her a while to completely get over him. It didn’t help that his CD took off and he was on nearly every music video and entertainment news show. His affair with Amanda Bynton fizzled but he was linked with several other women. All of whom were celebrities. When she finally was able to sit through a full interview with him, she didn’t even recognize him as the man she once loved. The words coming out of his mouth didn’t sound like things he would say. She noticed him sporting a colored string on his wrist, showing his affiliation with a religion popular with many in Hollywood. This was the same Methodist raised young man who mocked the religion when the subject was brought up once by saying it was for kooks. Lately he’d been making the news for getting into fights with the club patrons and photographers. There were also drug rumors surrounding him.

  All things happen for a reason. She’d heard that saying for the longest but it wasn’t until she was finally over James that she truly understood. There was no way she would want to be around him now. So, even though she was hurt by him, she was glad things ended between them. She was still annoyed with how Lourdes gleefully threw him up in her face. It wasn’t as if they were close sisters by any means yet she would not have expected Lourdes to so blithely bring up the name of the man who broke her heart. Lourdes knew the whole story because Isabella told their mother everything.

  Sofia had dated a few men since James but no one quite kept her interest once they caught it. Not until tonight anyway. She had a strong sense that Javier was going to be an exception. There was something so magnetic about him. One thing that impressed her was how he introduced himself. As much as she loved Atlanta, there was a high level of superficiality and emphasis on titles by many. What people did oftentimes came before who they were so she liked the fact that he didn’t introduce himself as “Attorney Javier Torres” but “Javier Torres”. He put the man before the title. That was a seemingly small thing that left a favorable impression as to what kind of person he was.

  She glanced over at his business card that she placed on her nightstand. For a few minutes she wrestled with whether or not to call him right then. She finally decided didn’t want to appear overeager and to wait until the next day. Just thinking of his dark, soulful eyes made a shiver travel through her. She couldn’t wait to talk to him again. She closed her eyes and tried to recall the woodsy scent of his cologne.

  Chapter 47

  Javier stared blankly at his date as she went on and on about things he had no interest in. He didn’t care what store she finally found the outfit she’d been looking for or that she’d dyed her hair ten times in the last year before settling on the current color or how she was thinking of suing her former hair stylist because she thought dye was left on too long and that’s what caused her hair to break. He ventured to guess it didn’t cross her mind that perhaps the fact that she’d dyed her hair ten times within the past year could have possibly had something to do with her hair loss.

  Javier simply nodded every few seconds to appear as if he were listening intently. He was going to call his friend Lorenzo as soon as he got home and let Lorenzo know he was not pleased in his choice for a blind date. Ten years ago he wouldn’t have had many complaints. Back then all the mattered was that the woman looked good. But now at thirty-three years old he was older and far wiser and it took a lot more than that for him to be drawn to a woman.

  His mind traveled to the young woman he’d met earlier. Just from the extremely brief conversation with Sofia, he felt a certain spark. He wished he’d been late for this date instead of rushing to end the conversation with her so that he could make it on time. He’d only spoken to her for a few moments but was certain she would never bore him with details on dye jobs. Those hazel eyes, the nibble-on-them-all-night-long lips and curves out of this world. Man, I can only imagine what it would be like to…His thoughts were interrupted by the waiter bringing their food. He hadn’t eaten anything since lunch and his stomach was grumbling. He said a quick grace over his food and began to eat. In the middle of one of the bites he noticed his date was eyeing him with a look of disapproval. On closer inspection he pegged the look as more of one of aversion.

  “Something wrong?”

  “You’re a meat eater. I thought perhaps you were a vegan like your friend.”

  “I’m not. Sorry.”

  He went back to his stuffed chicken and wished that she would get back to her spinach salad and let him eat in peace.

  “That’s chicken, isn’t it?”

  Javier let out a sigh and tried to control his growing irritability. “Yes, it’s chicken.”

  “Are you aware of the conditions that chickens are forced to exist under in those factories? It’s inhumane! You should really consider giving that up as well as all other meat. We weren’t meant to feast on the flesh of God’s creatures.”

  “Oh God,” Javier said under his breath.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I didn’t say anything.” He began eating the Parmesan Polenta and red cabbage.

  “Next time I see you I’m going to bring some literature. Do you know you alone can save around eighty animals a year if you became a vegan? Jesus was a vegan by the way.”

  He found it humorous not only at her thinking there would be a next time but her surety of what went into the belly of Jesus. They fell into silence and Javier’s thoughts went once again to Sofia.

  ”Javier!” said the blonde waving her hand at him. “You look like you’re in another world.”

  “I was just thinking about all the work I have waiting at the office on Monday.”

  “Come now. You have the whole weekend to enjoy and I can enjoy it with you. What are you doing tomorrow?”

  “Actually, I don’t think all the work I need to do is going to wait until Monday. I’m going to go into the office and work this weekend.”

  “Oh phoo! I was hoping we could get together tomorrow or Sunday.”

  “I’ll be stuck in a pile of paperwork. As a matter of fact, I’m really exhausted. Would you mind if I got the check as soon as you’re done with your salad?”

  She poked out her bottom lip.

  God, let me hurry up and get away from this woman. He could almost overlook her saying “phoo” but the little girl pout was too much.

  “If you insist. But only if you tell me something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That you’ll at least take the time to pick up the phone and call me.”

  “I’ll call.” But it won’t be to you. If I don’t hear from Sofia by tomorrow I’ll be looking up Bonança Bay in the phone directory. That’s the woman I’ll be calling.

  Chapter 48

  Lourdes arrived at the spa before Isabella. Isabella found out from one of the girls that Zahira was in the bathroom. Isabella found her at a mirror applying lip-gloss. Isabella walked behind her and slid her arms around her waist. She pulled her hair off her neck and planted a kiss on it.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  Zahira’s eyes met hers in the mirror.

  “Get away from me, Isabella,” she responded with a chill in her voice.

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  Isabella let go of her and turned sideways, looking at Zahira.

  “You know very well what’s wrong. Why didn’t you tell me your mother was back in town? Grace told me Sofia left early to have dinner with you, your mother and sister. Is that why you made our phone conversation so brief yesterday morning? I’m supposed to be your girlfriend but someone else has to tell me what you should have. Did you know your sister was coming to the spa today?”

  “Yes, I knew.”

  “You just let your sister walk up in here and you still had not told me anything.”

  “I’m sorry. She said she was going to come in later today and I figured I’d tell you before then. But you know my sister—she just does what she wants to do and doesn’t pay any mind to schedules and times.”

  Zahira faced Isabella, folding her arms.

 
; “This is not about your sister coming to the spa earlier than she was supposed to. That’s so beyond the point. Just tell me this. Which merkin did you use to present to your mother this time? Ethan again?”

  Isabella looked down and was silent.

  “Answer me, Bella! Who?”

  “Jeremy,” Isabella replied.

  Isabella could feel Zahira’s dark eyes boring into her.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Bella. I refuse to continue becoming non-existent whenever your mother deems to show her face simply because you’re not woman enough to tell her about you. About us! It’s not fair to me to act in the role of ‘just a friend’ whenever she or Lourdes is around.” She wiped a tear from her cheek and let out a half-laugh. “What’s so funny is you’re so scared your mother won’t accept you when in fact, seeing that you’re getting the first portion of your inheritance soon, she wouldn’t care if you admitting to liking Billy goats.”

  “I see you’ve been listening to Sofia.”

  “No. It’s just that I see what everyone else sees except you. But I’m done and for real this time. And don’t for a minute think this will be like before when your mother left town where you can just show up at my place with flowers, whisper sweet nothings in my ear and make love to me and that will hold me over until the next time you want to shove me back in the closet. Unless you come clean about the woman you claim to want to spend the rest of your life with, I don’t want to see you again.”

  “Zahira, please! Just hang in there a little while longer!”

  “You’ve been saying that to me since we’ve been together. And I’m tired of hearing it.”

  “You don’t understand how hard it is for me!”

  “I don’t understand?” Zahira asked, incredulous. “How dare you say I of all people don’t understand?! I’m an outcast from my family who’ve severed all ties with me because of who I am. Have you forgotten that? I only have one aunt who will even talk to me. Bella, they kill people like us in my family’s country and it’s sanctioned! But still I couldn’t live a lie anymore. I tell you all the time, hiding who you really are is a self-imposed prison. I found that out and now you need to do the same.”

  She removed from her finger the matching platinum band they exchanged a few months prior. She handed it to Isabella who refused to accept it. Zahira laid it on the sink and left out of the bathroom.

  Isabella backed up against a wall and slid down to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and sat in quiet for a few moments before she began to sob.

  Zahira went over to Grace who was standing at the reception desk flipping through a catalog.

  “Grace, is it okay if I cut out of here early?”

  “Oh no, you’re the only other masseuse freed up for the boopsie. You’re not sticking her with me.” She turned from the catalog and saw Zahira’s tear streaked face and red eyes. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  She grabbed her by the hand and guided her to the chairs near the counter where they sat down.

  Zahira looked upwards, blinking away more tears.

  “You’re going to find out anyway. I just broke it off with Isabella.”

  “Why?”

  “Grace, I can’t take it anymore. I’m done with the whole situation. It took me a long time to rid myself of the shame of who I am but Bella stirs up all those feelings again by hiding our relationship. She has nothing to lose by telling her mother about us. Her mother will go along with it if only because of her greed.”

  Grace squeezed Zahira’s hand.

  “You’ve got that right. But I’m hoping she’ll realize what she’s losing.”

  “When she does it’ll be too late. It’s already too late.”

  “It’s never that. You just feel that way because you’re upset. It will all work out. I believe that. But you get out of here. Go home and get some rest.”

  They stood and Grace gave Zahira a quick hug.

  “I’ll let Sofia know.”

  As Grace was going to the room to begin work on Lourdes’s massage, she saw Isabella coming out of the bathroom and her eyes were just as puffy as Zahira’s.

  Chapter 49

  Lourdes lightly moaned as Grace kneaded her flesh.

  “Grace, honey child, you sure do work wonders with them hands. You go, girl.”

  Grace slowed her handwork to a near stop and did a quick mental weigh-in on whether she should ignore the condescending manner in which Lourdes was using the “sister-girl” talk or slap her clean off the table and back to France quicker than she could say “croissant”. After realizing the repercussions of assaulting a client, she decided to ignore Lourdes and continue with the massage.

  “Just be careful of this spot.” Lourdes reached her hand back and pointed to the area right above her waist on the right side. “Somehow, when I was on the plane I fell asleep on my water bottle. I didn’t even notice it until I woke up and it felt tender.”

  “Sure.”

  Lourdes fell silent for a while then to Grace’s dismay began to speak again.

  “You know what I don’t get?”

  “A lot I imagine,” murmured Grace.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said I can’t imagine.”

  “If you and Sofia wanted to have this business of yours, why not just open it and let other people run it? Why are you both here doing massages and nails? Why not let the employees do everything? After all, that’s what you pay them for.”

  “We like to help out,” Grace replied dryly. She was in no mood to try and explain what a clue was to someone who didn’t have one.

  “Honestly, I don’t understand why you want to work at all when you both already have money. I’ve never worked a day in my life and don’t plan on it. Work is for people who have to do it.”

  Grace sighed. “Fire deh a mus mus tail, him tink a cool breeze.”

  “What?”

  “I was just thinking of something my mother says.”

  “Speaking of your mother, she runs what, a chicken place or something, right?”

  Grace glided her hands to the spot Lourdes informed her was tender and pressed deep into the area.

  “Ow!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I go too deep?”

  “Yes, you did! That hurt! I told you to watch out for that spot.”

  “Sorry about that. And by the way, my mother runs and owns four Jamaican restaurants and makes her a product she sells to stores all across the United States. I told you that before. You’re done.” Grace walked over to the sink to wash her hands.

  “Already?” Lourdes asked as she sat up.

  “Yes. I’ll let Emily know you’re ready for your pedicure.” She dried her hands and left a petulant Lourdes sitting on the table.

  As she walked down the hall she almost ran smack into Sofia.

  “Oh, now you’re back from your errands. It’s a good thing your mother didn’t come.” She pointed back toward the room Lourdes was in. “Because two of that I couldn’t take in one day. Instead of giving her a massage I wanted to wring her puny neck.”

  “I thought Zahira was going to take care of her.”

  “She asked to leave early. Your sister has really messed up things up this time and Zahira broke up with her.”

  “Oh, no. I was afraid that would happen.”

  One of the other masseuses, Joanne, came down the hall practically running and smiling from ear to ear. She walked up to them and squeezed Sofia’s arm.

  “Oh-my-God! You won’t believe who I just gave a massage to.”

  “Who?”

  She covered her mouth and bounced up and down like an excited schoolgirl.

  “Ease up woman and tell us who it is,” said Grace.

  “It’s Tyler Harrison of the Atlanta Falcons! I almost died. His body is so beautiful. He’s so gorgeous! My goodness—those dimples!”

  “Really? Are you sure it’s him?”

  “Sofia, that man is the only reason I watch football. Of course I’m sure. He and some
woman are in there getting the couples treatment. That woman he’s with is Elaine Montoya of Fox News. She is not so cute in person by the way.”

  “Tyler Harrison! This is so exciting, isn’t it Grace?”

  “Oh yeah. Exciting.” She did a half-hearted ‘raise the roof’ gesture. “Woo hoo.”

  “I’m going to go back there and see if I can help out with his other treatments. I just had to come and let that out.” Joanne went back down the hall as quickly as she came.

  “What’s up?” Sofia had noticed Grace’s less than enthusiastic response to them having such a celebrity in the place.

  “Please, we get celebrities in here all the time. Miss Montoya is pretty well known, too.”

  “Yeah, but Tyler Harrison?! He’s been getting plenty of endorsements and I heard he’s even going to make a cameo in some film soon.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Sofia grabbed Grace’s hand and led her to their office where she shut the door. She turned to her friend and shook her finger.

  “I’ve known you too long. Something is up. Now tell me what it is.”

  Grace placed her hands on her hips and gave Sofia a mischievous grin. Sofia had a feeling she knew what was coming and burst into giggles.

  “Quit your tittering. Okay, I’ll tell you, nosy girl. We had a little fling.”

  “And you never told me? Grace! Who is your best friend?”