Leslie's Curl & Dye

by DL White

  “I’m going to do my best. I’ll—” He bit off the rest of his sentence and gave a single nod. “I’m going to do what I can to see that Primrose stays open. Not only that, but this place should be able to run at full capacity. I want to work with Edward to figure out how to make that happen.”

  “I hear the words. I’ll back you with my vote, but I’m going to hold you to those words.”

  KC extended a hand and gently clasped hers. “I want to be held accountable, so I really hope you do.”

  She beamed up at him and I could tell she wasn’t ready for KC to let go of her hand. But I was. She was single and more than ready to mingle.

  “Yeah, so… we’d better check on Grandy and…uhm...” I thumbed toward her room two doors down.

  “Yeah. Yeah.” KC finally dropped her hand and nodded to the nurse. “It was great running into you again. Hope we see you on election day.”

  “For sure, Mr. Cavanaugh,” she said, dropping her voice a whole octave and decibel.

  I tucked my hand into the crook of KC’s elbow and gently pulled him in the direction of my grandmother’s room. When we were out of eyesight and ear shot, I rolled my eyes up at him, making sure he saw my death glare.

  “What I do? I was making sure she was planning to vote.”

  “You didn’t see her flirting with you? Thought she was going to break something, she was working it so hard.”

  “I was using it to my advantage, until you pulled me off. What if she gets offended and decides not to vote for me now? It’ll be all your fault, with your jealous ass.”

  “I know her. You don’t. I have a reason to be jealous.”

  I stopped at Grandy’s door and pulled on the handle. It swung open and we stepped into a bright, sunny, spacious single bed unit. Grandy was awake, her brilliant silver hair cropped close to her scalp. Mama liked to keep it short, so that it was easier to take care of.

  She was dressed in a pretty pink gown and sitting in a lounger, angled toward the TV. Her long, thin fingers were curled around the remote, which she usually held in her lap. She couldn’t actually change the channel, but she was comforted by holding it. The staff kept cable news running at our request.

  “Hi, Grandy! It’s Leslie.”

  I called to her like I usually did when I came to see her. Her gaze didn’t stray from the TV, but her fingers twitched. I took that as a sign that she knew I was in the room. I bent to kiss her cheek, and she blinked.

  KC was still standing in the door, leaning against the doorjamb and watching me greet her. I motioned him in and directed him to sit on the bed near her chair. I pulled a low ottoman around and sat between them, reaching for one of Grandy’s hands.

  “Her name is Edith but she’s Grandy to everyone in Potter Lake. She’s one of the most vibrant women in this town. Aren’t you, Grandy?”

  She blinked, still staring at the TV.

  “Before the stroke, Grandy always had a good story to tell, which she’d share with you over whatever she’d just pulled out of the oven. She was a master at desserts— I told you she could thrown down on some pecan pie. Pound cake, cheesecake, sweet potato pie, all of it. Back when the Curl & Dye was just a chair on her front porch, she’d sell her pies for extra money.”

  “So… how long has she…”

  KC swallowed, his gaze on Grandy. For a moment, I worried that maybe meeting Grandy was too much for him, that maybe the scene was giving him foreshadowing thoughts of his mother’s future.

  “Three years. I didn’t come home because of her stroke, but I arrived pretty very soon after it happened. It was heartbreaking. To know the woman that she was and to see her now… there’s such a huge difference.”

  The scene played out in my head like it had just happened the day before and not years in the past. My mother had come home from a half day shift at the salon to find Grandy slumped over and unresponsive. High blood pressure had already taken her out of the salon— she couldn’t work those long hours anymore. Add diabetes and the chances of a stroke or heart attack occurring were almost guaranteed.

  She was flown to Healy, where they couldn't do much for her since no one knew how long she had been unconscious. The last time anyone had seen her functioning normally was earlier that day, well outside the four hour window used to gauge if a person could receive the life saving TPA shot, which dissolves the clots that causes a stroke and restores blood flow.

  “Grandy loves all her children and her grandchildren fiercely. There’s never a doubt how she feels about me. And I love her back just as hard.”

  I squeezed her hand as I spoke. She blinked. And then blinked again. That kind of thing happened a lot when I spent time with her, and I didn’t care what anyone thought… I knew she heard me and she was communicating with me.

  “Grandy, I want you to meet somebody,” I told her. KC pushed himself up off of the bed and walked around to the other side of the lounger. I got up and pushed the ottoman over and let him sit, so he was eye level with her.

  He’d caught her attention. Instead of staring at the TV, she was staring right into KC’s golden browns.

  “You know Mayor Adams isn’t doing a good job lately, right? This young man here is Kade Cavanaugh. He’s a real good friend of mine and he’s trying to replace Mayor Adams in the election coming up. He’s also trying to help Edward with this place, so they can take better care of you.”

  He reached for her hand and gently curled his fingers around hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I call you Grandy?”

  She stared and stared and stared at him, her eyebrows nearly tied together.

  “Your granddaughter has done a great job as Potter Lake’s Ambassador, introducing me to the people of this town and teaching me what it is to love this place.” He stopped for a second and flicked his eyes over at me, then continued talking to her like they were having a full blown conversation. “I care about your granddaughter. I care about her a lot and I want to make her happy. Do you trust me with her, Grandy?”

  She didn’t move, nothing changed. But KC looked at me and said, “I feel like she’s trying to tell me something. Like… I’m supposed to pick up the brainwaves.”

  We both laughed, though quietly. Grandy’s eyes moved back to the TV, and then she turned her head toward me and gave me the same stare she’d given KC. She blinked, once. Nice and slow.

  And then turned back to the TV. One of her favorite news anchors was on the screen and suddenly, it was like we didn’t exist.

  “Well. I think we’ve been dismissed.”

  We left her in her room, sitting in her chair, watching her favorite news program.

  “You really think she was trying to say something to us?”

  “A lot of people don’t, especially some of the staff here. They tell me it’s reflexes. The way she looked at you though? She’s in there. So it’s important that she knows we’re still here for her. We love her the same and we’re going to take care of her. That’s why, if something happens to this place, we have to secure something for Grandy. We’re not going to dump her in some rehab center full of patients sitting in the hallway or in one room while no one talks to them or interacts with them.”

  KC was pensive as we walked. I helped him into the car and got in on the driver’s side.

  “So, everybody here… they’re all like Grandy? Stroke patients?”

  I pressed the ignition button and the car roared to life. I put it in gear and backed out of the spot as I talked. “A few stroke patients, a lot of age related dementia, some Alzheimer’s. This is Assisted Living— patients that require intensive, round the clock care are usually transferred to Healy. The idea was to keep them in Potter Lake, near their families, but there just isn’t money to fully use the place as it was designed.”

  I was frustrated with how helpless I felt. “The Mayor was so proud to build Primrose. I’m just… it’s crazy that he’s threatening to shut it down over money and filling in some potholes and putting up a light pole.”
/>   “I guess I need to think about what I can do to help.”

  “We could talk to Mr. Cable on the city council. And we could talk to Arletha, like you suggested. I really hate to blast it on the news, though. I don’t want people in a panic.”

  “We can go public if we have to but let’s keep it in our back pocket.”

  I made the drive back to the Curl & Dye in a few short minutes and pulled in next to KC’s Escalade. I turned the engine off, but before I could reach for the door latch, KC dropped his hand on my thigh.

  “Hang on a second. Let’s just… can I have a couple of minutes with you?”

  I relaxed in my seat and leaned my body toward the center console. He did the same, letting me brush my lips against his cheek. He reciprocated with a soft peck on my lips.

  “Thanks for introducing me to Grandy. I thought about asking to meet her but I know she’s important to you. I figured you would let me in when you were ready.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m happy you finally got to meet her. And, I should add that I’m touched by how involved you’ve become in how this town runs. My mama running in here to find you is really, really huge. She’s… was Quincy Adams’ biggest fan.”

  “I sense that, you know? That people are starting to count on me. I hope it translates to votes, but if it doesn’t, maybe I should think about city council, something like that.”

  He chuckled, his eyes flitting to the front doors of the Curl & Dye. “You said something to me awhile back. Remember, we were standing right out here. You said the this salon was your bread and butter. Your life line. And Guys N’ Dolls was a get rich quick scheme, that I could lose a customer and it wouldn’t matter, but it would be death knells for you.”

  “I remember.” My voice was husky with both the memory and the embarrassment of saying such a thing. I didn’t know that his motivation behind his co-ed salon was to keep his mind off of his personal issues. “And KC… I wanted to apologize for that. I was upset and desperate—”

  “No, no. That wasn’t what I meant, by bringing that up. I mean, you were right. I shut down half of my shop and I’m doing better business than I was before. All the people that we can send over here, we do and your business is growing.”

  He looked at me and I nodded to confirm. “It’s just that… I get it now. I get what you were saying about this town, about how everyone is here for each other. Helen was telling me about the old days, when her husband had lost his job when the mill shut down. She was making plates, selling them out of her kitchen and people wanted to support her so much, they’d drop by to get a plate, even if they’d already eaten.”

  He paused to let a small bubble of laughter rise from his throat, but kept going. “And like Frank bringing that air conditioner over here and installing it. Jessup finally replacing that pipe that keeps springing leaks, I mean—” He shook his head. “This town is the embodiment of We All We Got.”

  “Exactly. And in a couple of weeks, you become part of that.” I leaned over and kissed him, lingering a little on his lips. “Hey, you know what?”

  “Mmm,” he hummed, dipping toward me for another taste. “What?”

  “I was thinking that I might actually cook for you tonight.”

  One second he was there, all warm and sexy and smelling good and the next minute he’d pulled away, leaning back against the door. “Who are you, and what did you do with my girlfriend? Because the Leslie Baker I know doesn’t cook.”

  I laughed. And laughed and laughed. “Shut up, fool. I told you, I know how to cook. I just never did because my mama is a control freak about her kitchen. Fell out of the habit, but…” I reached for him and pulled him close to me again, looping an arm around his neck. “You’ve earned a home cooked dinner. At your own house. By me.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Les.”

  “Actually, I do. Because Dr. Irons told you to lose twenty pounds and I need to start taking care of my man. Pretty sure that’s what Grandy was trying to tell me today and I always take her advice.”

  KC grinned at that. “Your man, huh? You’re really getting into dating an NBA type.”

  “It’s growing on me.” I sighed, my gaze drifting to the customers coming out of the front door of the shop. “Guess I should get back to work. What are you about to do?”

  “I need to get a couple of things done at the shop. Might see if I can meet with Mr. Cable. Get to thinking about how we’re gonna solve this Primrose problem.”

  “Keep me posted, okay?”

  “I will. And uh… I know I say this a lot but it’s true. We make a really good team. I think you should start thinking about… you know… after this election. What you and I look like, how we run our businesses together, how we….” He moved his hand in the air between he and I, indicating the both of us. “How we keep this town great. I haven’t been able to do any of this without you. I don’t think that’s going to change if I’m elected. I need you.”

  “I’m here,” I choked out. “And whatever you have in mind, after the election, I’m here for that, too.”

  “Good to hear.” He leaned over and dropped a kiss near my ear, then popped the door latch to climb out of the car, and got right into the Escalade.

  I sat in my car for a few minutes. Marinating.

  Things were good. So, so good with KC. But we’d moved quickly, scary fast. Months ago we were at each other’s throats. Yesterday, Mama was hassling me about moving the rest of my things to KC’s so that she could rent my apartment out to someone at the church.

  I’d been putting it off because… what if?

  What if things were real good... until they weren’t? What if something else popped up?

  What if… his mom got sick and he decided it would be good to move home to be closer to her?

  What if… he got a job offer to be a commentator on ESPN and had to move to LA or New York?

  I could pull what if situations out of the air all day. None of them ever ended up with me next to him.

  The front door to the salon opened and Tamera stepped out. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. Her way of asking if I was okay. I smiled, climbing out of the car. In three steps she was in front of me, her spindly arms around me.

  “Hey, girl. Sorry for running out earlier.”

  “It’s all good. Grandy’s okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. I introduced KC to her. How was the day?”

  “Handled,” she answered with a shrug and a smirk. “E has a customer but my chair is empty. Why don’t you let me hit those locs and brows while you tell me what happened?”

  Chapter 27

  KC

  I hopped in the truck and pulled away from Leslie’s shop, my mind spinning with thoughts I’d never imagined myself having, a year ago.

  In two weeks, I would stand in front the town of Potter Lake and ask them to elect me as Mayor. How could I guarantee a win and start putting good things in motion for the people that lived here?

  Primrose Gardens was a new addition to the town but it was sorely needed— all of it. What could I do to keep it open, to keep the Mayor’s money hungry hands off of it?

  And then there was Leslie. Talk about someone I’d never even imagine knowing again, a year ago, let alone dating her. And falling for her, rock hard. I’d loved her, in some way, since college I realized. Righting things between us was the best thing I could have ever done. All I knew was, I was ready. For… whatever. Whatever life wanted to throw at me, whatever happened in two weeks, whatever happened in this lifetime, I knew I wanted Leslie to be a part of that. I had plans for us. And not a lot of time to put things into place.

  With my thumb, I brought up bluetooth. “Call dad.”

  After a few moments, the line began to ring. “Hey, son.” My dad’s rich, warm baritone rang through the interior of the truck. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, dad. I’m good. How are you? How’s mom?”

  “Real good, son. Mom went in for a nap. She wore herself out, dire
cting the annual garden planting.”

  “Oh yeah? I know she throws herself into that, doing maps and stuff.”

  “Yep, she had her diagrams out and everything. But the garden at the new house is bigger, so it took a lot more this year. She’s talking about fish ponds and things like that.”

  I heard him laughing, but also sensed his eyes rolling. My mother could be a bit… much when it came to her garden. But it was always worth it when vegetable harvest came around. “We had planned on calling you later on.”

  “Oh. Well, should I call back?”

  “No, no. We thought we’d come out for the election. It won’t be but a day or so, but we’d definitely love to be there to watch you win.”

  “That’ll be great, dad. I’m looking forward to seeing you guys. Win or lose, I hope I make you proud.”

  “I have every confidence in you, son. Did you need to talk to us about something?”

  “Yeah, actually. I wanted to run something by you real quick, foundation wise. You got a minute?”

  I’d pulled into the parking lot at the strip mall and sat in my spot in front of Guys N’ Dolls talking with my dad, who was the controlling manager of my charitable foundation. The Cavanaugh Fund granted annual donations to benefit children’s charities and sports programs for lower income communities. On an individual basis, an organization or family could apply for a grant to cover a one time monetary need. Dad and I went through the applications on a quarterly basis. Between he and my accountant, recipients were awarded and notified.

  I spent a few minutes detailing the situations that I’d been dealing with during the campaign, ending with the dilemma of trying to keep Primrose open.

  “Well, what do you want to do, son?”

  “I mean, let’s be real. A bag of money would make this go away. I hate to suggest it, though; I don’t want to insult anyone, or for anyone to think I’m trying to buy votes. But that place has to stay open and money is the only way that’s going to happen.”