“Um…so, Jane is on your schedule today for 9am.” She grimaces. “I wanted to tell you first before just leaving your schedule.”
“Oh.” I look at my watch. It’s almost nine. Not sure how I’m feeling about seeing Jane today. It didn’t even cross my mind that she could be here this week. “That’s okay. Thank you, Sally.”
I take a deep breath and let it out. I’ve got this. Maybe she doesn’t even know.
Just as that thought passes through, Jane walks in the door. Barely able to smile, she puts her arms out and hugs me. Yup, she knows. Why in the world would I think he wouldn’t tell her?
Hugging me, she whispers, “It’s all going to work out…you’ll see.” She kisses my cheek and places her palm over where she kissed.
With everything I have, I hold back tears. She glances at me. “Okay, let’s get this mop looking good again.”
If she said one more word, I’d have a breakdown right there in the middle of the salon. I’m grateful she saw it written all over my face.
I drape the cape around her and secure the Velcro. She watches me as I cut her hair. What is usually a chatty appointment is now silent. If I speak, I might break down.
“Those Walsh boys are very protective.” No kidding, Jane. But I don’t say it out loud. I just nod in agreement.
“They don’t take after me, but they take after my late husband, Richard.”
That stops me mid-cut, and I focus in, intently listening to what she has to say.
“Being responsible for their actions…absolutely. My Richard loved our kids and me hard. He instilled the work ethic that theyall have. He also passed along the incessant need to protect the people he loved.”
“Oh,” is all I can manage as I listen to her story.
“Richard told our son, Edward, not to marry Cecile. We saw the signs, but he did it anyway. She was running away from her past—not my story to tell. Edward wanted to protect her, and in doing so, he gave her everything she had ever wanted. Kendall, please know their relationship ended badly, very badly.”
She waves me down to her so she can whisper with no one else hearing. “I think your situation triggered Edward, and he was attempting to protect his son. Don’t get me wrong, I am not making excuses for his behavior. He crossed the line. I wanted you to know a bit of the backstory.”
“Thank you, Jane.”
I don’t know what else to say to her. Her son, Dane’s dad—I could just write him off and never look back. What sucks me in is the look on Jane’s face. One of love and sincerity. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to—if it’s meant to be.”
Those words weave their way through my body and into the floor, grounding me and offering a slight relief that relaxes my shoulders. I finish cutting and styling Jane’s hair. Sliding out of the chair, she brushes off some residual hair.
“You’re a beautiful soul, Kendall.”
“Jane…”
“I’ll be back for my spa appointment. In the meantime, keep your head high. You deserve everything life has in store for you.”
Tears well up and threaten to escape as she turns and leaves the salon.
My next client isn’t here yet, so I take a breather in my office.
Staring at my phone, I reread Dane’s text, and silently beg—please make this better.
The week from hell is approaching Friday morning. All week, Dane delivered coffee and cinnamon rolls. I’m feeling like I may need to up my workouts. And every day he texts me, but nothing more. Since it’s Friday, I have Sally clear my schedule for tomorrow. Even if I have to work a little later next week, I need a long weekend to recharge, and maybe, just maybe, I should meet up with Dane.
I miss him so much. This morning, I debated texting him. Although my mind settled somewhat throughout the day. I’ve replayed every moment of being with Dane. It rooted me in the fact that I hadn’t rushed into dating him. I was careful at first, but then he won me over. It all happened very fast, and I’m resigned to the fact that he found me, protected me, and now he’s fighting for me with his father. I know I want him in my life.
At first, I didn’t want to be the one interfering and getting in the middle of their relationship, but after talking to Jane, that’s not it at all. This is about more than him and me.
As I’m cleaning up my station to head back to my office to work on paperwork that needs my attention, someone walks in the door. It’s Dane’s dad—you’ve got to be kidding me. I would hope that if Dane knew he was coming, he would have at least texted me.
“Mr. Walsh.” Standing taller than usual, I won’t let him tear me down again. I’m stronger, rooted in my decision.
His hair and his clothes appear to be more disheveled than the last time he was here. “Can we talk?” he asks as he rubs the back of his neck, reminding me of Dane.
