Chapter Thirty
Taylor sat at the hair salon, talking to Jerome on her cell as she waited for her niece to finish curling her hair. For a Wednesday afternoon, the shop was bustling with activity. The salon was owned by Janelle, Crystal’s eldest daughter. Unlike the other Belle women, Taylor and Janelle got along well.
“Be with you in a minute, Auntie,” Janelle called from the back. One of her stylists had given a new client a bad color treatment, and in an effort to avoid a lawsuit, Janelle had stepped in to repair the damage.
Taylor listened to Jerome’s update of Joi’s visit. It appeared Joi was having a great time. Joi had only been there for two weeks, and already she’d been canoeing, fishing, and rock climbing. She was also acting as an assistant coach to the children’s basketball team at Jerome’s church. Joi had been so busy, Taylor was lucky if she talked to her twice a week.
Janelle came from the back, the previously enraged client now pleased with the new reddish-brown color in her hair. “Let me wrap her hair and put her under the dryer, Auntie,” she said to Taylor. “Then you’ll have all my attention.”
Taylor nodded. She wasn’t concerned about time. “Okay, tell Joi I’ll try to catch up with her tonight,” she said into the phone.
“Will do,” Jerome responded. “Oh . . . I noticed that you still haven’t cashed the check I gave you. What’s up?”
Someone sat in the empty chair next to Taylor, and she swung her chair around. It was Gizelle, and her hair was in desperate need of a relaxer. Taylor hadn’t expected to see her there. Gizelle’s regularly scheduled appointments were on Thursday evenings. Taylor waved to her then turned back around.
“I changed my mind. I’ll return the check, or if you trust me, I’ll rip it up,” Taylor said in a whisper.
“No, you can keep it. When you’re ready to open another store, think of it as a gift.”
“Five thousand dollars is a hefty gift, Jerome. I can’t take that from you.”
“Hey, people I don’t know have blessed my life, and I’m grateful for it. Let me bless you. It’s the least I can do.”
To make Jerome feel good about his act of kindness, Taylor told him she would accept his gift, but made a note to tear the check up later. It would’ve been nice to use the money as a down payment on a new building, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept that amount of money from an old lover. Taylor said goodbye then placed her cell in her purse.
“That’s the new Franco Sarto line, isn’t it?” Gizelle asked, referring to Taylor’s oblong leather bag. “Where’d you find that one?”
“The T. J. Maxx off of 476,” Taylor said blandly. Gizelle loved designer bags almost as much as she did.
“Really? Those bags are expensive. I priced one in Neiman’s the other day.” Gizelle stood up and took a closer look at her hair in the mirror behind her. “I guess you can afford it, now that you’re not getting the second shop.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. Gizelle knew nothing about her finances. Had Taylor been thirty years younger, she would’ve dragged Gizelle around the salon by her hair.
“Talk to Joi today? How does she like Chicago?”
“She loves it,” Taylor said and picked up a magazine from Janelle’s workstation.
“How about Jerome?” Gizelle asked. “You speak to him?”
This is the day I stand up for myself. Taylor closed the magazine. “What is your problem?”
“No problem. I just wanted to know if you talked to Jerome. I bet you two talk all the time now?”
“That’s none of your business,” Taylor barked.
“Maybe not. But I want you to know that I’m keeping my eye on you.”
Janelle walked over to her aunts and asked them to lower their voices. Clients could hear every word they were saying. Gizelle apologized then reclaimed the seat next to Taylor.
“You need to worry about your own marriage and stay out of mine,” Taylor snapped softly then swung her chair around. Although everyone in the family sensed that Gizelle’s marriage was in trouble, Gizelle pretended to have the model husband.
Gizelle ignored Taylor’s comment and continued to ride Taylor. “My brother is an honest and decent man. He’s always been attracted to women that were manipulative and selfish, women that flocked to him after being wronged by some no-good man. I don’t trust women like that. Never have, and I feel my only brother deserves better.”
“People make mistakes, Gizelle. I’m not going to let you stand here and pretend that your life is a bowl of roses. I know that—”
“You know that I never cheated on my husband or slept with a married man. I’m not perfect. I know that. I just want to make sure my brother isn’t getting the raw end of the deal.”
“Who are you to judge me?” Taylor bellowed.
Janelle walked over to them again. “Am I gonna have to separate you two?” Janelle joked.
Both women apologized again and turned away from one another.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s keep the boxing gloves off. I’ll be back in one minute.”
The conversation was over, but not before Taylor had the last word. “And you call yourself a Christian.”
Gizelle spun her chair around so fast, Taylor thought it had broken. “Don’t question my relationship with Christ. Worry about what you’re doing behind Lance’s back.”
“What are you talking about now?”
“I overheard you mention the rather nice gift Jerome gave you. Are you still seeing him?”
Enough was enough. “Don’t speak about things before you know all the facts,” Taylor said and jumped to her feet. “How are you going to say these things to me after all these years? After four children?”
“You didn’t answer my question. Are you still seeing him?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m married to your brother, not you.”
“My brother can be naïve. I’m looking out for him.”
Janelle raced back to her aunts before things got any further out of control. “Auntie Gizelle, why don’t you go in the back. I’ll have my assistant base your scalp.”
“She can stay there because I’m leaving. I can come back tomorrow,” Taylor said. “Despite what you all think, Lance and I and the kids are very happy. Very,” she noted and walked out the front door.
By the time Taylor made it home, Lance had heard about the disagreement between his sister and wife. Janelle had called her mother, who in turn called Gram. Gram had called Lance, pleading for him to straighten out the problem.
“You and Gizelle acted like two teenagers. Janelle could’ve lost some clients,” Lance said. “Now everyone is all upset.”
“But what about my feelings?” Taylor asked. “When are you going to tell them to stop hurting me?”
Taylor and Lance sat on opposite ends of the couch in silence. Ten minutes later, Taylor headed upstairs. Lord, where is my increase?