I slipped my cell phone back in my desk drawer, surprised by my disappointment. I was looking forward to talking to Jodi more than I had realized. Well, my question for her would just have to wait. It was a slow day at the salon. Luckily, we had enough hopping days to make up for days like this. I opened my computer and clicked on my accounting software. I took advantage of the lull in business to enter my latest receipts, something I often put off in favor of cutting and styling hair. It was actually the interactions with the clients that I liked best. My girls could handle the few clients that were on the schedule, and if we got busy because of walk-ins, I was nearby to lend a hand.
I was still in my office a few hours later when my phone rang. I jumped at the sound, engrossed in my work. I picked it up and pressed the answer button without looking at the caller’s name. “Hello.”
“Beth?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Jodi’s voice. “Hi there.”
“Sorry it took so long to get back to you.”
“No problem. Did you have a nice time?” I closed my laptop and leaned back in my chair.
“It was okay.”
“That doesn’t sound too thrilling.”
“We went antique shopping. More Claire’s thing than mine. But it was fine.”
Cindy took that moment to pop her head in my office. “Mrs. Ferguson and her son are here. He asked for you. Can you come out or should I have Rachel help them out?” I put my hand over the mouthpiece on my phone. “No. I’ll be out in a minute.”
She nodded and backed out of my office, quietly closing the door as she did.
Jodi obviously heard her—or me. “Do you have to go?”
“In a minute. I wanted to know if you would like to come over for lunch tomorrow. Maddie will be at school—at least she better be. I have to be there in the morning because I have a repair guy coming over to look at my dryer. I thought maybe I’d stick around and make you lunch. If you’re interested.”
“I would love to.”
I relaxed. She said yes. “That’s great. Listen, I do have to go. I’ll text you the address. Does noon work for you?”
“Absolutely.”
We said our good-byes and I went out to the shop and up to the counter where my client was waiting. “Hello, Mrs. Ferguson,” I said to the elderly lady. “Mr. Ferguson.” I nodded at her son.
“Al. Please.”
“Al,” I repeated. I turned to his mother again. “How are you today?”
“Was I here before?” she asked.
Al had his arm around his mother’s shoulder. “This is where you get your hair done now. You were here a few weeks ago. You were very happy.” He addressed me. “She really was. She may forget why she’s here, but once home she admired herself in the mirror and commented on how nice her hair looked.”
“I did?” she asked him.
“You did.” He smiled at her. His smile turned to me. “We were both very pleased with your services. I’m sorry to drop in without an appointment. I hope it’s okay.”
“Of course. It’s no problem. Walk-ins are always welcome.”
Mrs. Ferguson looked at her son and smiled. “Walk-ins are always welcome.”
“That’s good news, Mom.”
“Oh yes. I can get my hair done.” Her moment of clarity surprised me. Al winked at me. He was obviously used to it.
“Same style as before. Do you need to see the photo again?”
I prided myself on remembering clients and their preferences. I shook my head. “I’ve got this. Are you ready, Mrs. Ferguson?”
“For what?”
Al gave a little smirk and shook his head. “For your hair trim and style.”
“Yes. Of course. That’s why we’re here isn’t it, silly?”
I led her back to the wash sink and helped her into the chair. She leaned her head back like an old pro and I went to work.
“Another great job,” Al said when I returned his mother to him. “Shall we set up another appointment in about a month?” He handed me several folded bills to cover the appointment and a hefty tip.
I handed him a card with the new appointment, and they took their leave. The only other client in the shop was in Cindy’s station and they chatted away as she snipped her hair. Rachel was sweeping the floor. I held out my hand for the broom and she passed it over, a cloud of confusion on her face. “You can go home. I’ll pay you for the whole day. No need to hang around. I’ll finish this.”
“Wow. Thanks.” She grabbed her purse from the backroom and was gone before I had a chance to change my mind.
I finished sweeping the stray hair from the floor and deposited it in the tall trash can that sat just out of the clients’ view. My mind went to Jodi and lunch. I liked to cook, but cooking for just Maddie and me often got boring. And Maddie didn’t seem to appreciate it when I whipped up something special. I wasn’t sure what I was going to make. I should have asked Jodi if she had any special likes or dislikes. I tried to remember what she had eaten the couple of times we had gone out together. She wasn’t a vegetarian…and she didn’t seem to be staying away from gluten—which was all the rage these days.
I wondered if I should go simple, with just sandwiches and chips. Or fancy, with my world famous lasagna. Okay, it wasn’t world famous. But my family seemed to like it. I would stop at the store after work and get all the fixings. I could put it together while the repairman worked on the dryer. I was so deep in thought that I didn’t even notice that Al had come back in. I turned with a start at the sound of my name.
Al looked like he tried to suppress a laugh. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I think my mother may have left her…oh, there it is. Her handkerchief.” He pointed to the shampooing chair. I hadn’t even noticed it there. “She usually keeps it in her pocket. For some reason fidgeting with it helps her stay calm.”
“Of course.” I retrieved it and handed it to him.
“I also what to thank you for being so good with her. I never know how people are going to react. Sometimes they get flustered when she goes off the rails with the dementia.” He seemed genuine in his gratitude.
“It’s no problem. I understand.”
“Well.” He held up the handkerchief. “I better get this back to her. She’s like a kid without her favorite blanky.”
I nodded. He headed for the door, turned at the last second, waved, and was gone. What a nice man, I thought. He really does care for his mother.
“Cindy, I’m going back to my office. Let me know if you need me.”
“Will do, boss,” she said and turned her attention back to the woman in her chair.
I sat in my chair and pulled my phone from my desk. I opened my notes and started my shopping list. I was determined to cook Jodi the best lasagna she’d ever eaten.
* * *
I looked at the clock one more time. The repairman was just finishing up and I hoped he would be on his way before Jodi arrived. I still had half an hour before she was expected.
“All set, Ms. Bellamy,” Joe, the repairman, said. “I’ll just leave this here for you.” He set the bill on the kitchen counter and pushed his black rimmed glasses farther up his nose. “You’ve got yourself a new thermal fuse. It’s good to go.”
“Thanks, Joe.” I walked him to the door.
“Let me know if you have any other problems.”
I nodded, thanked him again, and walked back to the kitchen. I took the meatballs from the oven and added them to the pot of homemade sauce on the stove. I put the lasagna where the meatballs had been. If I had planned this right and Jodi was on time, we would be sitting down to eat about forty-five minutes after she arrived. I set the table in the dining room. The kitchen was too small for a table, and Maddie often used the dining room table as a catchall. It was a bone of contention between us. I made sure that she had cleaned it off before going to bed the night before.
I didn’t know why I was restless—almost nervous. I hadn’t entertained anyone but my family in my home in quite a while. My sister was right. I really did need to get a life. Maybe this was the first step in the right direction. I was very grateful for the possibility of a close friend. There was just something about Jodi that I really liked. She was easy to talk to and so easy to laugh with. I needed that.
I did one more quick tour of the house to make sure everything was neat and clean. Keeping up with that with a teenager in the house was often a challenge. Satisfied that everything was in order, I went upstairs and inspected myself in the full-length mirror in my room. I ran a quick brush through my hair and brushed my teeth. What the hell was wrong with me. This was a friend. It wasn’t a date. It wasn’t the pope. It wasn’t—I didn’t know what. It was a friend.
The doorbell rang when I was halfway down the stairs. I rushed the rest of the way, stopped just short of the door, and took a deep breath. I smoothed down the front of my pants and pulled my shirt down in the back. Stop it, I thought. Just answer the damn door.
“Hey there,” I said as I opened the door.
“Wow. It smells so good in here.” Jen pushed past me. It wasn’t Jodi. I tried to hide my disappointment and surprise.
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s a nice welcome.” She turned and hugged me. “I went by the salon again. Still trying to get a haircut. Couldn’t believe I missed you again. But Cindy said you were home today, so I thought I’d stop by. What are you cooking? Am I in time for lunch?”
My mind raced trying to figure out a way to get her out without hurting her feelings. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t want her to stay and have lunch with us. Actually, I did know. I didn’t want to share Jodi. At least not this early in getting to know her.
My sister made her way to the kitchen. She picked up the lid on the saucepan, peeked in, and took a whiff. She tilted her head as she looked at me. “Are you expecting company?” She caught sight of the dining room table set for two, and her face lit up. “Do you have a date?”
“I do,” I said. “But it’s not what you think. It’s Jodi. My friend I mentioned that made my new sign.”
Her face dropped. “Damn. I was hoping it was a man. Oh well.” She put the lid back on the pot. “What time is she supposed to be here?”
I looked at the clock on the stove. “In about ten minutes.”
“Okay if I stick around and meet her? I’ll get out of your hair after that.”
I mentally kicked myself for the relief I felt. I was being ridiculous and I knew it.
“Of course. Want something to drink?”
“Sure. A margarita would be nice.”
“Ha ha. It’s not even noon. I was thinking more like a glass of juice or a cup of coffee.”
“Geez. I was kidding. A cup of coffee would be good if it’s already made. Otherwise I’ll settle for juice.”
“Juice it is then.” I opened the fridge door and peered in. “Apple or grape?”
Jen grabbed a glass from the cupboard. “Apple.”
I handed her the bottle and she poured herself some. She followed me into the living room and sat across from me. We made small talk for about twenty-five minutes. I noticed her check her watch several times, bringing home the fact that Jodi was late. I excused myself to take the food out of the oven and returned to the living room.
I was relieved when the doorbell finally rang.
“I’m so sorry,” Jodi said when I opened the door. “Claire called just as I was about to leave, and I had trouble getting her off the phone. When she has time, she calls me on her lunch hour. Oh hi,” she said, noticing my sister sitting on the couch. She extended her hand. “I’m Jodi. I’m guessing your Beth’s sister.” She looked from Jen to me. “You two look so much alike.”
My sister stood up. “Yes. I’m Jen.” She shook the hand Jodi offered. “Nice to meet you. I was just about to go.”
“You aren’t staying for lunch?” Jodi asked her.
“Not this time. I have some errands to run. But I’m glad we had a chance to say hello.” She gave me a hug, said her good-byes, and left.
“Your sister and you have the same sparkle in your eyes,” Jodi said. “Both beautiful.”
I felt a heated blush rise up my neck to my cheeks. “Thanks,” I said, not quite sure why I couldn’t meet Jodi’s eyes. “Lunch is ready. I hope you’re hungry.”
“What can I do to help?”
“You can tell me what you would like to drink.” I ran through the list of possibilities. She chose the merlot. I handed her the bottle and my fancy battery operated corkscrew. I watched her open it like she was an expert.
“What else can I do?”
“Nothing. Everything is done. Go ahead and sit down.” I waved in the direction of the dining room. We would still be close enough to chat as I got the food ready.
“You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble,” Jodi said. I set the pan of lasagna next to the bowl of meatballs and returned to the kitchen for the garlic bread.
“No trouble at all. I enjoyed it.” I sat across from her and said a silent prayer, thanking God for the blessing of this food and my new friend.
Several seconds of silence followed as we filled our plates.
“This looks so good. I’m not used to having someone else cook for me.” Jodi took a large bite of garlic bread.
“Claire doesn’t cook?”
Jodi shook her head. “She knows how to make eggs and she makes the stuffing for Thanksgiving. I’m not sure she knows how to make anything else.”
“That’s sad. So, she would starve if you didn’t cook for her?”
“Not at all. She knows all the best restaurants and she’s not afraid to use them.”
I laughed.
“She also has Mark’s Pizza on speed dial.”
Time for a change of subject. I wanted to know more about Jodi. I really didn’t care about Claire. “What’s it been like for you to move here? Do you miss Denver?”
“I would never say this to Claire…”
Claire again.
“…but it’s been damn hard. I miss my mom and my friends.”
Despite my reservations, I needed to ask. “Why wouldn’t you tell that to Claire?”
Jodi hesitated and I wondered if she didn’t want to tell me. She must have read my mind—or my face—because she said, “I’m just trying to figure out the best way to say this.” After several long moments, she continued. “I want Claire to be happy.”
“Of course.” I could only imagine that Jodi would sacrifice her own happiness to assure Claire’s.
“She was so excited when she got the promotion and the opportunity to move. Claire’s originally from Chicago and has no real attachment to Denver. So, for her it was no big deal to pick up and leave. For me and the kids it was a different story. We’ve never lived anywhere else. Our roots are there.”
I nodded. I couldn’t imagine picking up and leaving Rochester and my family.
Jodi continued. “It was especially hard for Andrew. Annie seems to be able to adapt to anything. Not to mention the struggle to reestablish my business here. I just don’t want Claire to know how hard it’s been.”
I appreciated her honesty and my heart hurt for her.
“Don’t get me wrong. Claire has been great. She pays the majority of the bills. She is very generous with her money. I’ve never had to worry about where our next meal was coming from.”
I imagined that Claire liked the control that afforded her.
“I kept in touch with my friends for a while after we moved, but the distance seems to have made a difference, and one by one, we sort of lost touch. It’s been quite lonely to say the least.”
For a second I thought she was going to cry, but she looked me straight in the eye and continued. “That is why I am so thankful to have met you. You are like a ray of sunshine in my cloudy life.” She smiled.
I felt the sincerity in her smile and returned it. “I feel the same. My life has been so wrapped up in my daughter and business that I’ve let friends slip away. I truly enjoy your company.”
She held up her glass of wine. “To new friends and fresh starts.”
I clinked my glass to hers. “Amen.”
“Did you get your dryer fixed?” she asked. The fact that she was changing the subject didn’t escape my notice.
“I did. It’s been broken for a week. I never thought I would be grateful to do laundry.”
She laughed. “And work? Will you be going to the salon later or are you taking the whole day off?”
“Hmm, that’s a good question. I don’t know. I have plenty I can catch up on around here. On the other hand, it feels very weird to take a whole day, other than Sunday, off.”
“Ah, the joys of owning your own business. I understand. I hired a woman to help me with mine but had to fire her for stealing my computer. I should have known it wouldn’t work out. She was fresh out of prison.”
I stopped with a fork full of food halfway to my mouth. “Seriously?”
She snickered. “No. Not seriously.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re quite the smart-ass, aren’t you?”
“Well, most people just call me an ass. Thanks for also saying I’m smart.” She took a large sip of her wine.
“You’re welcome.” I shook my head. “But I doubt anyone would call you an ass. I can think of a lot of words to describe you. Ass wouldn’t be anywhere on the list.”
“I can think of a lot of words to describe you too.”
She had me intrigued. “What words would you use?” I was quite aware of the fact that I was asking for a compliment.
Luckily, she obliged. “Friendly, funny, beautiful—inside and out. And that’s just off the top of my head. I could dig in and add a couple dozen more.”
“You left out intelligent.”
“I said I wasn’t done. Intelligent, modest, short.”
“Hey!”
“Let me finish. Short on days off.”
“Nice save.” I smiled. Jodi was so great to be around. I poured us each another glass of wine. What a great afternoon. The visit wasn’t even over and I was already looking forward to the next time I could see her.