Soaring(42)

Alyssa stopped abruptly, causing me to crash into her, but she didn’t notice me.

She had eyes only for Josie.

“’Cause our girl here is beautiful,” she declared.

I drew in an audible breath.

But she was not finished.

“But she’s broken.”

I stared at her profile and held that breath.

Alyssa went on, “I don’t know why. I just know that shit is real. And every girl knows a makeover is the start of pickin’ up the pieces. And I’m all over that.”

She turned to me and it was then I noticed my vision had gone misty.

“You wanna share, you sock it to me,” she offered. “You don’t wanna give it, it’s all yours to keep. But I’m doin’ this and so is Josie. I get your hair. Josie gets your makeup. And both of us get your clothes.”

Suddenly, she lifted up a hand sharply, palm out to Josie and turned her eyes that way.

She did this still speaking.

“I know I walk on the skank side. I like it. It’s me. My baby likes it. Keeps him just like I want him to be. But I know better with our Amelia. You get the class but me havin’ my part doesn’t mean I’m bringin’ the trash. I’m bringin’ the va-va-va-voom ’cause with this girl’s tits and ass, she can be all over va-va-va-voom.” She turned back to me. “’Cept you’re takin’ off too much weight. Sister, you gotta eat.”

And with that and not another word, she carried on charging toward Maude’s House of Beauty, hauling me with her.

I was in her chair with a robe on before I knew what was happening and Alyssa wasn’t done bossing.

She shoved a Surface in Josie’s hands and declared, “I got a one-thirty. This doesn’t leave much time but I’m gonna get her cookin’. You’re gonna be surfin’. Use the salon’s Wi-Fi. Password’s written on a piece of paper in my top drawer. Show her what you find. Show me. Email her links. Anything we wanna pick up at a store, we’re goin’ tomorrow.” She curled her hand around my shoulder. “Anything you wanna buy, babe, you get home, open those links and go crazy. Now!” she cried excitedly. “I gotta go brew up some magic. I’ll be back.”

And she was off.

I sat in my salon robe in her salon chair staring after her.

Slowly, my eyes drifted to Josie.

She was standing beside my chair, forgotten Surface held in her hands, her eyes where Alyssa used to be.

“If you have other things—” I began.

I stopped when her eyes cut to me.

“There is nothing right now more important than what you need.”

My vision again went misty.

“This is—” I started again.

“You picking up the pieces,” she finished for me. “And this is us, at your side, helping.”

I felt the tear slide down my cheek.

“I’m being selfish,” I whispered.

Her head tipped to the side, her eyes filling with confusion. “How’s that?”

“You both dropping everything so I can get a new hairstyle,” I explained and shook my head. “That’s me. Part of me at least. Selfish.”

“May I ask, if you met me and I behaved like you’ve behaved since I met you, and suddenly I phoned you, making it clear you needed me, how you would feel?”

Oh God.

“Honored that you asked me,” I said quietly.

“Indeed,” she replied firmly.

“I’ve made a mess of my life,” I shared.

“Join the club, Amelia,” she returned instantly.

I blinked and another tear escaped down my cheek.

What was she talking about?

She was gorgeous. She was the most fashionable woman I’d ever seen. She was always turned out perfectly. She had Jake, who was nice and sweet and almost as handsome as Mickey and he was so into her, it wasn’t even funny. Her son was adopted, but he clearly adored her beyond reason. And Jake’s other two kids loved her the same way.

She had everything.

How was her life a mess?

“I didn’t always have Jake and all that he brought to me,” she announced, as if hearing my thoughts. “I didn’t always have Conner and Amber and Ethan. I didn’t always have Alyssa and Junior. I used to have next to nothing. Then,” she leaned into me, her eyes holding mine, “with a good deal of help, at long last, and when I say that, I mean for me it lasted decades, I picked up the pieces.” She reached out and grabbed my hand. “You’ll note, in saying that, when I did, I did not do it alone.”

Another tear chased down my cheek.

Josie watched it then looked back at me.

“Will you give me the honor of letting me help you not go it alone?”

Without the ability to do anything else, I nodded.