I laugh really hard. This woman is spunky.
“Better work/life balance. Your grandson sounds intriguing.”
“Well, if that’s what you're thinking, maybe once the grand opening happens, you’ll have more time for something other than work.” She laughs and nods, as if the matter is settled.
We discuss what’s going on in her world, beyond her grandson. She’s busy with her girlfriends, and her social life is way better than mine will ever be. She was widowed a few years back and finally found her people. It’s nice to see she’s doing so well. I’m excited that she’ll be joining us for the grand opening as a very loyal customer of a woman-owned business.
A few hours after Jane leaves, I finish up my workday, lock up, and clean the salon.
Dane:
It’s Friday. Any chance I can steal you on Sunday?
Kendall:
Depends…what’s in it for me?
Dane:
Me, obviously. We’ll have a great time, and I’m looking forward to hearing about the grand opening plans. Just say yes.
I have so many reservations about this, but I’m trying to give it a chance. He has been so persistent, but not to the point of being overbearing, like texting me every day.
Since my girlfriends said I’ll never know unless I try to see what he’s all about, I feel like I should give him a chance. I don’t want to end up in his bed again, though. If I’m doing this, I want an actual date. Don’t get me wrong, the time with him a fewweeks ago was the best night of my life—he’s like a magnet that I’m drawn to.
Kendall:
Okay, yes. I hope I don’t regret this.
Kendall:
Pick me up at 5.
I send him my address and close my eyes, thinking either this is the stupidest idea I’ve ever had, or it’s going to be a ton of fun.
The music is pumping through the salon speakers, and I’m dancing around as I sweep. Being able to let my hair down and be free to dance opens something inside of me. I remember when my grandparents used to dance in the kitchen. They’d always invite me to dance with them. Their love was unmatched. The way they took care of each other. Until I was a young adult, I’d witnessed them dancing all the time.
My heart aches realizing my life is fulfilled in so many ways, but I'm missing out on sharing it with someone special—someone who knows me and loves me all the same.
Although my girlfriends are my lifeline and support me no matter what, it makes me think about how lonely I feel at moments like this. Maybe it’s because Jane came in today, and I love listening to her.
She was widowed and never stopped talking about the life she and Richard had had for over forty years. That’s a long time to be with someone. All the trials and tribulations they withstood over those years. Jane tells me love picks you. I’ve asked her what she means by that, and all she says is love picked her and Richard—soulmates. If I were guaranteed a love like theirs, I’d go for it. Love isn’t ready to pick me. My eyes prickle, but I brush them off.
Jake, the one guy I thought picked me, was a nightmare. He lied and manipulated me at every turn, and what pisses me off the most is that I was blind to it. Until Faith took me aside and had a frank conversation with me. He was adamant that I spend all my time with him, which left no room for my friends. Especially since I had just opened the salon and was working there a lot. I remember one night; I was at the salon late:
It’s late, and I need to text Jake. Otherwise, who knows what will happen? The last time I was late, he was questioning me about where I was and who I was with, even though I had told him all of that a few hours before when we spoke. He said I didn’t call. I told him that my client was running late and had just arrived. He calls my phone, and I hesitate to answer, but I do anyway. He asks twenty questions again, and he says I’m not really at the salon. I say I’m at the salon, and my client walked in and is sitting in my chair. I need to let him go. He was still yelling into the phone about how I do this all the time, and we never have time together. Once I hang up, it hits me hard that he just isn’t the same person as when we first met. I need to break up with him.
My client is finally done; it’s still light out. The sun is just about to set. I walk over to the front door to lock up, and I see him sitting in his car that’s parked on the side of the road.
Has he been there the entire time, watching me? I’ve been so busy I didn’t notice. This isn’t normal behavior. The conversation with Fatih reminded me he’s a manipulative, gaslighting, and negative person. I guess we’re adding stalker to the list.
This whole situation is creeping me out, so I call Faith.
“He’s here.”
“Jake? What do you mean? Do you need me to call the police?”
“I’m not even sure what to do. He’s sitting in his car that’s parked on the street right before the salon. I’ve been running late all day. I called and texted him about it and even said I’d text him when I was done.”
