by D. D. Marx
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love it. What’s up with you? You seem anxious. Is there something I should know about?”
“I don’t want to make big deal about it.”
“About what?”
“Okay, I’ll come clean. I’m making dinner for someone tonight.”
“A gal?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time. That’s great, man. Good for you. Who is she?”
“Her name is Olivia Henry. Remember Garrett from Gin &Tonic?”
“Yep.”
“Olivia is his cousin. She kind of came out of nowhere.”
“How do you mean?”
“When I went over to Garrett’s house to do a sample menu tasting with him in preparation for his grand opening, she ended up being the one to answer the door.”
“Is she from around these parts?”
“Nah, she’s from Chicago. I guess she was planning to come out here for the grand opening but came out a little early to help him get ready. She is a very pleasant surprise.”
“That’s awesome, Scottie. I’m happy for ya. I reckon I saw a little pep in your stride these days.” He laughs as he winds up his towel to smack me in the leg.
“Want to hear something funny? But you have to promise not to make fun of me.”
“I can’t guarantee that but lay it on me anyway.”
“The night of the opening, she had a little too much to drink. She was helping me take some things out to the truck and she slipped and fell, which was so cute. When I helped her up, we had a moment and she kissed me.”
“Why would I make fun of ya?”
“I kind of panicked and . . . rejected her.”
“What is wrong with ya? Isn’t she cute?”
“Aye, totally adorable. I just haven’t kissed anyone since Christine and it caught me off guard, that’s all.”
“That’s understandable. I’m still not gettin’ the funny part.”
“She came to the restaurant yesterday to apologize for being so forward and said, wait for it, she didn’t realize I was gay.”
After his uncontrollable laughter, he said, “I reckon I love this gal already. When do I get to meet her?”
“Not tonight and she’ll be here any minute, so you need to get out of here.”
“Finn and Olivia sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”
“Mature. I’m never going to live this down. Good night, Tex.”
He left out the back door while puckering his lips and making kissing noises.
Chapter Fifteen
(Olivia)
Hell has frozen over because my alarm goes off at six a.m. I am going running. I. Me. Running. Me. I know. I am to running as oil is to water. We don’t mix, at all, but I only have twelve hours to get this body overhauled. Is it possible for me to sweat out twenty pounds before tonight? As I reach the trail head, I’m convinced I’m going to either get eaten by a mountain lion or bitten by a rattlesnake because these are the things that would only happen to me. I am quite the pessimist. Ever since that horrifying phone call on April 6. It’s my go-to internal defense mechanism. I expect the worst then work my way back up to logic. I expect disaster to be lurking around every corner. Behind one of these cacti perhaps which, of course, will prevent me from having a date with the hottest man I have ever seen. Twisted ankle maybe? No, I’ll fall, hit a rock and chip a tooth? Better yet, I’ll shrivel up and die from dehydration. Welcome to my twisted, self-destructive brain. I don’t know why I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m a great person and deserve to meet a hot guy that wants to have crazy, hot, steamy sex with me and sweep me off my feet. Then I remember I’m approaching thirty and it hasn’t happened yet, so why hope now?
I rush home to shower which requires three layers of skin exfoliation, and head down to borrow Garrett’s car. And I’m off. First stop, the nail salon. I need a fresh manicure and pedicure. It’s one of those walk-in places, but this is Palm Springs; it can’t be bad, right? They are all talking in a foreign language, so I can’t understand a word but know they are saying, “This white girl so hairy she need weed whacker, hee, hee.” Dare I say, I need an eyebrow wax here or should I wait for the salon? Today is all about efficiency. I have too much to do, so screw it.
The nail technician walks me into the back room and all there is a chair but like a folding chair you would see at a VFW hall, not a comfy salon chair. Just as I second guess my decision, she barks, “Sit. Head back.” As I close my eyes, expecting hot wax on my eyebrows, I feel hot wax land on my upper lip. Startled, I sit up.
“Um, what are you doing? I want an eyebrow wax.”
“You have caterpillar. I do for free.”
Before I can object, she rips the paper off my face, and I’m convinced it includes my tonsils. This is all I need, to show up tonight on the first date I’ve had in two years with a giant rash stache. She rubs aloe on it.
“It red and sting now but okay in four hour.” She finishes my eyebrows, I pay, and I’m out of there. I don’t dare stay for a bikini wax. I’m leaving that to the professionals. Plus, no time to debate; I still need hair, clothes, lingerie, and a tan on this pasty white, Midwest body.
I call Tristan and tell him to put in the 911 to his best friend Tracy.
“I need highlights, a trim and a bikini wax—stat.” He calls me back and confirms my appointment at three. That’s cutting it close but I still need the outfit. I race to the little boutique in town and pick out a cute pair of white jeans, a silky sheer navy button down, some fun jewelry, and top it off with a fun pair of strappy silver sandals. I jump back in the car and search my phone for a lingerie store within ten miles. A store called Briefs pops up. Perfect.
When I arrive, I alert the sales woman that I need the works. I haven’t freshened up the undies in five years, plus I’m stuck with my emergency gym bag; time for a fresh start. I don’t know what’s in these days. Boy shorts? Thongs? Lace? Silk? I show her what I’m wearing tonight, and she finds me a navy bra and thong set that will go under my sheer blouse. She loads me up with all new bras and thongs and five-hundred dollars later, I’m on my way. I know; I’m out of a job but underwear is not where you cut corners, especially when you have a hot date with Finn McDaniels.
Before I pass out, I grab some food and caffeine for round two and in the same strip mall, I see a place called Glow. Check—spray tan. Lucky for me, they take walk-ins. I’ve never done this before so the girl explains the different options—the regular bed, the booth, and the hand sprayed. She assures me the hand-sprayed is the best option because she can get every “nook and cranny.” Lovely. She mentions that it goes on with a light bronzer so she can see that it’s even, but the full color doesn’t come out for six to eight hours. I’m not allowed to shower until tomorrow to give it time to set. I am desperate, so I go for it.
The final stop—the salon, Mayne. I can relax and be pampered. Well, right after the bikini wax that is. I’ve never done this bikini wax thing before, but I hear it’s quite the rage. The technician hands me a very flimsy pair of fabric underwear. One side is very thin and the other has much more coverage, so I put the thin side up front so she has better access. She walks in with a stunned look on her face. She declares, “I am an esthetician not a gynecologist. That is a thong. The small part goes in the back.” As I apologize, I’m thinking to myself, well, you’re the one who chose to wax crotches for a living.
Thank God, I get that torture session over with.
Tracy, the owner, greets me as she shows her previous client out. She senses the disturbed look on my face and guides me over to the drink station where she pours me a glass of champagne, then leads me to her station and steps away to mix up the color. I start leafing through the magazine pile in front of me when “Small Town” comes chiming through the overhead speakers. I tear up.
Danny, you know the drill. No messing with my heart. We
made a pact. You only bring people in to my life that are meant to be in it. Please, don’t send any more distractions. No more colossal time-wasters. No more inconsiderate egomaniacs or selfish idiots. I don’t have any more lessons to be learned. I get it. I’m ready. I can’t take any more heartbreak, okay? And I’m already super scared because I already know I really, really like Finn. So please come through. I’m begging you.
Tracy comes back with the color and gets to work.
“I hope you’re a magician,” I say, grabbing my hopeless locks.
“Your hair is fine. It just needs some cleaning up,” she assures me.
“You’re very kind. To be candid, I don’t have a very large beauty budget, so I’m somewhat of a serial salon hopper. I convince myself I’m saving money and so far, no one has Edward Scissorhands me.”
“It’s not as uncommon as you might think. People span both ends of the spectrum. Sometimes, I cut someone’s hair once and never see them again. I also have several clients that treat me like their spouse. After all, we do know all of your deepest and darkest secrets.” She grins.
“Speaking of deep, dark secrets, I may as well lay it all on the line now. Your aesthetician might be filing a sexual harassment suit later today or ask that I be banned as a client for life.”
She laughs. “What? Why?”
“Let’s just say the paper thong and I had a little misunderstanding. I hope you’ve invested in an Employee Assistance Program where she can receive anonymous counseling. I can’t even imagine what your Christmas parties are like. Do you play games like throwing darts at pictures of your worst clients’ faces taped to the wall? You know, the bad tippers and the ones who don’t put their paper thong on the right way?”
The next two hours go by in a blink as she tells me all about her move out to Palm Springs five years ago from Maine, hence the salon’s name, to break into celebrity styling and boy, did she ever. Tracy has worked with several A-listers, helped get them Oscar-ready, the Emmys, the Globes—all of it.
She spins me around in my chair to unveil the best haircut of my life.
“Tracy, you are a gifted artist. I might have to move here just to get a great haircut. Tristan didn’t mention you were so sought after. I’m so honored to have you cut my hair. I will say although I didn’t know about the hype, I do now and you are worth every ounce of praise. So, thank you again for squeezing me in.”
“Anytime. It was great meeting you. I hope you’re not one of those one and done clients.”
“Me too. Who knows, crazier things have happened. Maybe I’ll be living in Palm Springs someday soon. Never say never. And you can be my first official girlfriend.”
“I would love that. Please, stay in touch. Have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she giggles.
As I walk out to my car, I catch a glimpse of a store front tucked away from view. A bright neon sign says Readings by Kelly. Walk-Ins Welcome. I stop dead in my tracks. Pun intended. I’ve never gone to a medium or had my cards read. As much as I talk to Dan, of course, there’s always a tiny element of doubt looming. Is there really an afterlife? Can he hear me? Is he with me as much as I think he is?
As I’m having this internal discussion, I somehow find myself standing in the doorway. Dan knows how impatient I am. He knows I can’t wait for tonight. I want to hear if this woman has anything to say about Finn. I take a deep breath while a woman greets me. She is in her mid-forties. Short blondish hair with a beautiful and inviting smile. A warmth drapes over my entire body like a blanket and my fear turns into excitement. Dan, let’s do this. Show me what you got.
“Please, come in. Don’t be nervous. Is this your first time?” she inquires.
“Yes,” I respond.
“Come in and make yourself comfortable. Don’t worry. This isn’t any sort of voodoo or witchcraft. I’ve been doing this for a long time. My name is Kelly.”
“Hi Kelly, my name is Olivia.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Olivia,” she says, extending her hand to lead me to the back room where she will conduct the reading. It’s a small but cozy room. It has two giant, white, fluffy chairs. Not to be cheesy but they almost look like clouds. The chairs sit in front of a modern fireplace. The mantle is strewn with white, lit candles of all different shapes and sizes. The ceiling has a series of strung lights, made to look like stars, covered with delicate white tulle. The candles and ceiling lights are the only things lighting the space which makes it a very inviting, calming, and warm place.
She gestures for me to have a seat in the first chair.
“I tried to ignore spirit for a long time myself but they are very persistent. Once I gave in, I learned to embrace it as gift. I consider it a gift because I have the ability to connect loved ones here in the physical world with their treasured ones on the other side. How can that not be fulfilling? So, the way I work is I have you sit here for a couple minutes, state three wishes, and ask for one specific thing you would like for your loved one to present to you during the reading to validate it is them. I find that process clears the mind and leaves you more open to receiving whatever messages may be waiting for you.”
“Okay.” I quiver as I close my eyes and start.
Dan, I am not going to lie; I am kind of freaking out. I want nothing more than to connect with you. Please, please, please, come through. If you are here, say something about our musical connection or have her mention Chuck Taylors. Then I will know.
My three wishes are:
1. To meet a wonderful, compassionate, generous, loving man who is my ultimate soulmate; who will cherish me, our connection, and who will promise to love me forever. Oh, and he has to be funny—that is an absolute must. Annnnnnnd while we’re at it, throw in handsome. Sorry, one last thing—a chef would be amazing.
2. My second wish is to find my purpose and passion in life. Why am I here? What have I been put on this earth to do? Help me find it, be successful at it and I want it to be rewarding. Heal my soul kind of rewarding.
3. My last wish is for the people I love most. Please protect them and watch over them; keep them safe, happy, and healthy, always. You know who they are.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I say to Kelly as I jolt myself back to reality.
“Let’s get started.” She closes her eyes and places her hands over mine while whispering a prayer. “Spirit, please protect Olivia and guide her with your love and light, in all things good, always and forever. Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Wow, right away I have someone here that is eager to get through. A young male in his early twenties. Do you know who this would be?”
“Yes” is all I can muster.
“He keeps saying I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. He said his passing was sudden, tragic, and unexpected. Is that true?”
“Uhhuh.”
“He says no one was more surprised with his passing than he was. That in the blink of an eye, he was just gone and on the other side. It happened in an instant. He takes responsibility for what happened. He knows the sadness and pain his passing has caused for his family and you. I am seeing the name Hank; was that his name?”
I am covered in goosebumps; so stunned, I can barely get the words out.
“Wow, this is incredible. Unbelievable. No, that was his nickname for me.” I well up with tears.
“That is him validating he’s here. He has a great deal of love for you and knows how often you talk to him. He said he sends you songs and license plates. Those are not coincidences.”
“I can’t believe this.” I am almost paralyzed in disbelief.
“Okay, now there is a woman coming through. About the same age. She died of an illness. It left and came back. I am feeling something in my chest and abdomen. Do you know who this is?”
“No, I don’t know who that would be. I don’t know anyone else young who has passed,” I say, bewildered.
“She and your friend know each other, and they want you t
o know they are together on the other side.”
“That’s really odd. I have no idea who that would be but I am glad he has a companion. Maybe he’s introducing me to his girlfriend. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the first thing he did when he got there. He was quite the ladies’ man.” I smile.
“He is really funny. He’s clowning around. They have their arms interlocked, almost like they are square-dancing, and can’t stop giggling. Was he funny?”
“Only the funniest person I’ve ever met.”
“He is showing me a door. That symbolizes an ending. Did you end something?”
“Yes, I just quit my job.”
“Okay, he says there’s a huge shift coming in your life. He wants you to know how protective he is of you so you need to trust him. You will be able to leave the pain in the past and move on. He assures me they will always be with you. He also said you will be moving in the next six months. Does that make sense?”
“Wow, I hope so.”
As she ends our session, she asks, “Well, was it what you were hoping for? What you expected?”
“I am so overwhelmed and grateful. You truly are amazing. You have a tremendous gift. I can’t believe he mentioned Hank. Mind blowing. I asked him for a different sign but it would be just like him to do it his way. He was always so thoughtful. He loved to plan surprises. Like the take your breath away bombshells. You have no idea how much peace and comfort this gives me. Knowing he can hear me. That he’s always with me. I will make sure to tell his family, too. Very healing. Thank you.” I lean over to hug Kelly goodbye. I close my eyes and imagine the hug is from Dan even though nothing could ever measure up.
Dan, you have outdone yourself. I couldn’t love you more. Thank you.
Now back home for a quick cat nap, then time to get ready. I put on the finishing touches and reach into my purse for the pièce de résistance, my necklace from Danny, the best good luck charm there is.
Chapter Sixteen
(Finn)
I take a deep breath as I see her pull into the back-parking lot.