CHAPTER 20

Natalie filled out her registration form online.

Her hand shook as she moved her mouse to the send button.

Just do it. Quick and easy, like a Band-Aid.

She clicked her mouse and sent her form to one of the top culinary schools in Houston.

It was done. She had just pre-registered to start school next week.

Seeing Yolanda chase her dreams and succeed made Natalie realize that it was time for her to start her life. She had been hiding behind styling hair all these years and couldn’t live her true self. But now she’d finally taken the first step toward regaining her life. It was going to be hard. She didn’t know how she was going to juggle working and going to school at night, but she knew that, like most women, she had to get everything done. She sighed, already feeling exhausted from work that hadn’t even begun.

I wonder how Yolanda will react when I tell her tomorrow.

She knew her friend would always have her back, but Natalie knew Yolanda would be disappointed that she wasn’t staying in the same field. When Yolanda made management, she knew her promotion would take her as far as she wanted to go in this business. Natalie would just have to tell her that hair wasn’t for her anymore and that she longed for the day when she could open up her own restaurant. She closed her eyes and saw her restaurant as clearly as she could see her own apartment.

The restaurant would be draped, top to bottom, in warm tones of honey and caramel, colors so sweet you couldn’t wait to bite your mouth down on a rich osso buco, braised to perfection with the perfect blend of seasonings that brought out the flavor of the veal. She would serve it with creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach with roasted pine nuts. She rubbed her stomach and pictured herself eating every savory, delicious morsel.

She woke up from her reverie feeling starved, and went into the kitchen to fix a quick snack.