CHAPTER 21

“So how has your training been going?” Jackie asked, taking a bite of her chicken salad sandwich.

“It’s been going pretty well, actually. Maxwell has been very nice and patient,” Yolanda said.

Actually, the training was kicking Yolanda’s butt. She never knew this would be so hard. It was great working with Maxwell, but he was a perfectionist and didn’t care how many times she had to do something over and over again, he wanted it just so. Trying to remember all the codes for the computer system and which days to order what for inventory had Yolanda’s brain turning to mush. She didn’t know if she could squeeze anything else in. She was tired, but she got energy from knowing that this is what she’d always wanted. Yolanda could feel the approval from her former workmates as she and Jackie ate their lunch in the salon café. This is all worth it. Finally, she was getting looks of envy, looks that she normally dished out to other women. She was getting full doses of it. It wasn’t right by any means, but she savored the feeling, knowing it wouldn’t last long.

Yolanda scanned the café, looking for Natalie. They always sat together for lunch, but lately she had been too busy to take a break and had to sit in her office to eat, quickly gulping down a sandwich while going over files. There was a large mural on the wall behind them of black people eating and drinking outside. It could have been a picnic or a family reunion, but whatever the occasion, everyone looked happy. The café was filled with both staff and employees, all sitting in their own cliques enjoying a hot meal.

“When is your probationary period over?”

“In about six weeks,” Yolanda said, taking a big bite out of her bacon cheeseburger.

“How can you eat all that junk and not gain weight?” Jackie asked.

Yolanda shrugged and inhaled a handful of fries.

“Okay, girl, watch out…that stuff is gonna go straight to your hips one day.”

Let’s hope so.

“Hey, girl!” Natalie said loudly, walking over to where Yolanda and Jackie were sitting. Her white shirt was unbuttoned, showing plenty of cleavage and stretch marks, and her tight black pants couldn’t stretch another inch over her enormous hips and thighs.

“Where have you been hiding?” she asked, pulling out a chair.

“Excuse me,” Jackie said sweetly.

Natalie turned around to look at Jackie.

“Yes?”

“We were having a staff discussion, and it really isn’t appropriate for employees to listen in on this kind of stuff.”

“First of all, we’re all employees, and second of all, if it’s that important, save it for a staff meeting. I’m trying to talk to my friend,” Natalie said.

“Listen, um…?”

“Natalie.”

“Yeah, Natalie. I’m trying to be civil here, but we were having a private discussion. Sit somewhere else,” Jackie said, smiling tightly, her eyes cold and hard.

“You stuck-up little—”

“Natalie!” Yolanda cut in. “Why don’t I call you later on tonight, okay?”

Natalie turned and gave Yolanda a long look. Yolanda pleaded with her eyes for Natalie to just drop it. Natalie shoved the chair back hard and walked away, twisting her big hips as she went.

“First things first, don’t associate with anyone at work unless they are on management,” Jackie said.

“Why?”

“It’ll cause problems. Trust me, just don’t do it.”

“But Natalie and I are friends. We’ve been friends for years; I can’t just stop speaking to her,” Yolanda said.

Jackie shrugged and finished eating her sandwich.

* * *

“See right there?” Maxwell asked. “Your numbers are all wrong, it should be up 22.6 percent, not 21.4 percent. Better check that out.”

“Right.”

Maxwell leaned closer to Yolanda, looking over her shoulder at her computer. She froze. He has never been this close to me.

“Check that one out, too,” Maxwell said, tapping on Yolanda’s computer.

“Okay,” she said, looking up into his eyes. Women would kill for those eyelashes. He could be in a mascara commercial.

“What?”

Yolanda jumped slightly, not realizing that she had been openly staring at him.

“I was just looking at your eyes.”

“What about them?” he asked.

“They’re beautiful.”

He frowned.

“Well, it seems like you have this under control,” he said getting up. “I’ll come and check your progress tomorrow.” He turned and went into his office.

What did I say? Was I being too forward? I’ve really messed up now…

“Knock, knock.”

“Come in,” Yolanda said, wondering if she should apologize to Maxwell. She didn’t mean to make him feel uncomfortable.

“Hey, you wanna go get some drinks tonight?” Jackie asked.

“Sure. When?”

“Now. That is, if you’re finished.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty much done here.”

“Where did you want to go?”

“What about Ray’s?” Yolanda asked. She was dying to go, and by the looks of it she wasn’t gonna get invited anytime soon.

“Nah, we’re supposed to be going there after Saturday’s staff meeting. I’ll wait until then. I was thinking more like Jax,” Jackie said.

“Okay, sure,” Yolanda said, trying to hide her disappointment. “We can go there. Just let me tell Maxwell I’m leaving.”

“Sure. Meet you out front,” Jackie said, beaming brightly.

She straightened her desk, trying to make enough noise to lure Maxwell out of his office.

He didn’t.

She knocked on his door.

“Come in.”

Yolanda opened the door slightly and poked her head through.

“I just wanted to let you know that I was leaving.”

“Good-bye,” he said without looking up.

She closed the door, upset with herself for making that stupid remark about his eyes. She grabbed her purse off her desk and took the elevator downstairs to meet Jackie.

“Hey, Miss Thang,” Natalie said. When they were both stylists they would wait on each other in the reception area, then meet up for dinner. Yolanda had been so busy she had forgot about their routine.

“Hey, girl,” Yolanda said, feeling awkward. “Look, I’m sorry about lunch.”

“Water off a duck’s back. That wasn’t even the worst part of it. Let’s go get something to eat and I’ll tell you the rest. I’m starving.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I already promised Jackie that I would get drinks—”

“Enough said. Go have fun,” Natalie said dismissively.

“Look, I’ll make it up to you. Can I call you tonight?”

“You owe me big time. Saturday night, Doneraki. You better be there,” Natalie said, reaching for a hug.

“You know I will,” Yolanda said, thankful for having such an understanding friend. She gave her a warm hug and left. She didn’t want to keep Jackie waiting.

* * *

Jackie watched Yolanda approach her car. She was almost pretty. Her long brown hair was in soft curls cascading down her back and her caramel skin was smooth and creamy. She was just too skinny. Poor girl, she’s gonna have to marry a white man. A black man wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. He’d get tired of telling people that she wasn’t a crackhead, that she was just naturally that skinny.

It made Jackie uncomfortable giving her a hug, because she could feel all her bones. A gust of wind blew and Yolanda’s clothes pulled against her and Jackie saw the outline of her body and shuddered. Her thighs were like toothpicks and her chest was flat as a pancake. Poor, poor girl.

“You sure you wanna ride together? I could just follow you,” Yolanda said, getting into Jackie’s Lexus.

“Nah. You live close to the salon, and your car will be fine. Besides, we can talk more. I want to learn more about you,” Jackie said, pulling out of the parking lot.

“What do you want to know?” Yolanda asked, adjusting the vents so she could feel the air conditioner.

“Oh, I don’t know…What made you want to be a hair stylist?”

“It’s a funny story actually. I’m not a morning person, but when I was in high school, I would get up two hours earlier than necessary just to curl my hair.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So my mother saw all the fuss I was making over my hair, and she suggested I take cosmetology in high school. I guess the rest is history.”

“That’s good that your mother is so supportive of your career,” Jackie said.

“I’m sure it’s the same for you and your mama, right? Aren’t you and Dee Dee close?”

Jackie paused, trying to think of something appropriate to say. She didn’t know this girl well enough to say that the relationship was strained, to say the least.

“Yeah, we’re close. As close as a mother and daughter could be, I guess.” Jackie turned on the radio, and they and jammed on Keyshia Cole’s urban poetry all the way to the bar.

* * *

Jax Grill was packed. Then again, the place never failed to draw a crowd, its down-home barbeque and upbeat music being the main attraction. Happy hour was in full swing, and Jackie had to circle the parking lot twice before finally cutting off another car and stealing a spot. The bar was located in a part of town that was unpretentious and casual, a nice change from the upscale atmosphere of the salon. It was clearly a come-as-you-are scene; everyone was dressed casually in T-shirts and jeans. Jackie and Yolanda could hear the zydeco music blaring through the speakers as they took off their jackets and threw them into Jackie’s trunk.

The band was on a break when they got inside, which was probably the reason they found a small table near the rear of the bar. Yolanda had never gotten a seat inside, always having to melt outside on the bar’s oversized patio.

“I can’t believe we found a table!”

“I know, I’m surprised,” Jackie said, pulling a platinum flask from her purse and taking a swig.

“You don’t want to wait until we order?” Yolanda asked, surprised that Jackie couldn’t wait until the waiter came.

“Girl, I’m just relaxing after work, that’s all,” she said, taking another swig. “You want some?”

“No thanks. But maybe you should put it away. This isn’t BYOB.”

Jackie shot Yolanda an icy look, and took another drink. Finally, she screwed the top back on, muttering “Party pooper” under her breath.

“It looks nice, though,” Yolanda said, trying to dispel the tension in the air, nodding at Jackie’s flask, which had rows of diamonds on the rim. “Where did you get it?”

“My mom gave it to me.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s all right,” Jackie said, tossing it into her large Louis Vuitton bag.

“Excuse me, but we were sitting here.”

Yolanda turned and saw two tall Hispanic women looking down at her.

“Oh, I’m sorry, we didn’t know,” Yolanda said, grabbing her purse.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Jackie said, smiling as she looked up at the two women.

“Look, we just got up to get some drinks—”

“And? You move, you lose.”

“Woman, give us our table back!” one woman demanded.

Jackie stood up.

She said something in Spanish to the women. She was smiling, but her voice was a low growl. The two women backed up.

“Sorry,” one of them said. “Keep the table.”

“Gracias,” Jackie said, sitting down. Her nostrils were flaring and her face was red with anger. Well, as red as black people can get.

“What did you say to them?” Yolanda asked, curious.

“Nothin’ really,” Jackie said. “I told them I was packing, and if they didn’t leave I would kill them.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“Yep,” Jackie said, her color returning to normal. “So, girl, what are you gonna drink?”

“Um, I don’t know. Listen, are you okay?”

“Me? I’m fine,” Jackie said, smiling brightly. “You wanna split some wings?”

* * *

“Thanks again, girl. I had a good time,” Yolanda said, getting out of Jackie’s car.

They had laughed and talked for hours. Yolanda was surprised by how much they had in common. She had felt a little uncomfortable right after Jackie had threatened those women, but as the evening wore on, she forgot all about it.

“I had a good time, too. Let’s do it again soon, okay?” Jackie said.

“Sure,” Yolanda said, closing Jackie’s door. She walked to her car and sped off into the night.