“Now, I send this home with you, so you can do yourself, yes?” Elly nodded, subdued by this gothic princess. “You show that woman that she cannot own you.” Elly smiled at her. “Okay, you start like potato pauper Ablachi” – I’m not sure what that means, thought Elly – “And now you are like royal princess.”
Several stylists had gathered around Kita and were whispering excitedly. She smiled proudly and spun the chair around. Elly gave a sharp inhale and clasped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes brimmed with happiness. She looked…..sumptuous. Yes, she thought, that was the word. Her plump lips shimmered in a light honey. Her cheekbones jutted out, and every flaw she’d previously found in her face was covered by a healthy glow. What drew her in most were her eyes and hair. Elly’s curls, which were always obnoxiously bouncy, had been coaxed into soft tendrils that flowed around her face. Her dishwater blonde had been lightened to a rich golden blond, with creamy wheat lowlights. Her eyes, lined with a dark shadow, radiated light and confidence.
“Oh my God.” Elly heard Kim behind her. “Elly, you look…I mean… WOW!”
Elly burst into laughter, pulling Kita down into a hug, which she strictly protested. “Okay, okay, no need to be emotional.” She pushed back, but not before Elly glimpsed a sly smile on her dramatic face.
Kim walked over and proceeded to stroke her hair. “Elly, it looks so beautiful!”
“Stop touching it!” cried Elly, slapping her hands away. “You’ll mess it up!”
Elly wandered over to a large gilded mirror and stared at herself. The red, bloodshot eyes of the last three days were gone, and in their place bright aquamarine jewels gazed back at her, fringed with dark lashes. Elly felt a surge of self-esteem return, one that she had missed, and it raced to her toes, lighting up her mood. She was beautiful.
Kim settled the bill, tipping Kita such a ridiculous amount that Elly was forced to look away.
Kita kissed Elly lightly on the cheek, “You go get this woman, yes?”
Elly nodded, her heart full of gratitude. “Thank you, Kita.”
Kita smiled and walked briskly back to her station, her five-inch stilettos clicking. When she and Kim walked out of the salon, Elly was surprised to see that it was already dark. “What should we do with my new fabulousness?” she cried, flipping her hair obnoxiously. “Dogtown?” Elly stepped down off the curb.
“Oh no,” said Kim, “You already have plans tonight.”
“I’m sorry?”
Kim reached in her purse and pulled out Elly’s beat up cell phone. “Turns out this ancient thing texts. I sent Isaac a message saying that you wanted to go out for a nice dinner tonight followed by some wine at home. Wink, wink”
Elly’s mouth dropped open. “You did what? Did you – wait, what? How am I? Does he know?”
“Calm down, stop hyperventilating, you’ll wreck your face.”
Elly leaned her head against the cool window. “What did you do?”
“You have a gorgeous man that wants to ravish you and run his hands through your hair. You don’t think that’s the boost you need before going into the meeting with Lucia?” Kim fiddled with the radio, before she rested her hand on her belly, exclaiming sharply. “Wow, she is kicking a lot today! Anyway, I’ve never been completely convinced that you belong with Isaac. There is something about him that doesn’t sit quite right with me. But I think tonight his ridiculous guitar strumming and lame poetry is exactly the tonic you need.”
“I hope you didn’t imply that there would be wild adventures under the covers tonight. I’m not sure I can fight him off again. He was like an animal last time,” Elly pointed out, a laugh light on her tongue. “Like a crazy, bohemian animal.”
A light mist had crept across the windshield by the time Kim pulled her Lexus up to the curb in front of Posies. She patted Elly’s hand lightly. “Go enjoy yourself a little. There are tough times a-coming.”
A wave of gratitude and affection washed over Elly as she climbed out the car.
“Thank you Kim. I’m not sure how to say just how thankful I am for you.”
Kim smiled at her. “Reel it in. No need to be emotional,” she said in her best Kita imitation, then, softly, “And you’re welcome.”
The black SUV roared away. Elly looked up to her apartment, where she could see lights glowing through the wavy glass. Isaac had let himself in. She smiled and headed upstairs.
At the door, she took out her keys and unsure of what to do next - knocked. Weird, she thought, you’re so weird. Isaac yanked it open, chopsticks and a wine glass in his other hand.
“Hey beautiful, I ordered – Whoa.” He grabbed her hand and twirled her around. “Elly.” He started to let out a string of compliments and then stopped abruptly, a flush running up his cheeks. “You take my breath away.” Violently, he swung Elly into his arms, chopsticks pressing into her back and caressed her mouth with his lips. Elly kept her eyes open, watching raw passion rush over him like a flame. Make me forget, she thought, take me away from my own thoughts. She let her eyes close softly, surrendering to this perfect and adoring distraction.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE