CHAPTER 22

Theresa wasn’t sure why Dee Dee wanted her to come to work early. She didn’t even ask. The valet crew didn’t come until 8:00, so she pulled her BMW into a parking spot near the front that was normally reserved for clients. She would have Marco move her car into the garage later. If there was a later.

Theresa loved her parking spot. It used to belong to Sheila, but now it was hers, all hers. She knew she was just a temporary fill-in for creative director until Dee Dee found an adequate replacement. She tried to keep to herself, to not become attached to this place. But Behave had a way of pulling you in, making you feel at home. And Theresa did feel at home, more at home than at any other salon she had ever worked. Behave was definitely unlike any other salon. Even though it was big—enormous, in fact—it had a tranquil quality to it. It could be teeming with clients, some eating and talking in the café, others chatting with their stylists, still others buying products to tame that wild hair. Even with all the hustle and bustle, the Behave experience could still soothe, ease, seduce, you into a trance-like state, making all your problems melt away. At least for the moment. Theresa did not want to leave, but she knew her time had come to an end.

Theresa got out of her car and started walking toward the entrance.

“Hello, Miss Theresa.”

“Hello, Jose,” Theresa said. Jose was at the front door holding it open for her. Every time Theresa walked by, Jose always stopped whatever he was doing and complimented her on everything from her clothes to her hair—even her body. This habit of his bothered most of the women at the salon, and he had been in two meetings with Maxwell about his unwelcome glances. One more complaint, and he was out.

“You lookin’ really nice, Miss Theresa,” Jose said, practically drooling.

“Thank you, Jose,” Theresa said, walking past him and noting he smelled of grass and sweat. She kept walking, but turned at one point and saw that he was still watching her. Theresa had that effect on men. It both irritated and flattered her at the same time. She liked men to be attracted, but a small nagging sensation would creep up her spine and she would become uncomfortable with the attention. It was if Carol was standing next to her and she could feel her body stiffen, preparing herself for a blow to the head. “What’cha been doing for them men to be lookin’ at you like that?” She could feel the pain in her head like Carol had just hit her. Her breathing quickened and her hands began to tremble violently. A cold sweat poured over her and she punched the floor number and scrambled in the elevator. Nausea washed over her and she took deep breaths, trying to steady her breathing. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Perry, told her to try to calm herself down before she reached for her medication. Breathe, breathe…

She could feel her heart beginning to slow down to a normal pace and her hands stopped trembling. Her panic attacks had become more frequent in these last months. Seeing Maxwell, memories of Carol—all set off panic attacks. She had been struggling with them ever since she had left high school, but she had only got diagnosed three years ago. All that time she never knew what was happening to her, but she felt like she was losing her mind. Breathe, breathe…She couldn’t talk to Dee Dee in this condition—she would have to go to her office and freshen up.

* * *

“You wanted to see me, Dee Dee?” Theresa asked, standing in the doorway of Dee Dee’s office.

“Yes, come in and have a seat,” Dee Dee said, looking at something on her computer.

Theresa sat down.

Dee Dee took off her glasses and looked long and hard at Theresa. It was a look that would unsettle most people, make them fidget or glance away. But not Theresa. She looked back, mentally preparing herself for what Dee Dee was about to say.

“I think you know me well enough to know that I’m pretty straightforward. I’m incapable of small talk. That being said I want you to be my new creative director. I’m announcing it at today’s staff meeting,” Dee Dee said.

“Excuse me?”

“It goes in effect starting Monday. The office you’re in now will be yours for a few days, then you’ll move to the office next door to mine, Sheila’s old office.”

“Wait, wait…I don’t understand. I thought I was just…”

“Temporary? Yes, I know, but I was just testing you to see if you fit. You’re more than qualified, and I am confident you will do a wonderful job. I want you to look at this contract,” Dee Dee said, handing Theresa a thick folder. “Read it carefully, and if there’s anything in it you need to discuss, just tell me. You’ll find it more than fair.”

All my dreams are coming true. I told you, Carol, I told you I was gonna be somebody one day…

“Thank you so much for this opportunity, Dee Dee,” Theresa said, trying to keep her composure. I just wanna scream and shout and do cartwheels all over the place!

Dee Dee grabbed Theresa’s hand. “Thank yourself for being such a brilliant, talented black woman. You are my right hand, an extension of myself. I know you can make me proud and lead this salon into a bright future.”

“Thank you, thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. Be a woman of action and do something,” Dee Dee said.

Theresa stood up. She wanted to cry. She wouldn’t in front of Dee Dee, not yet. Why wasn’t this woman my mother? Life would have been so much different…

“I promise, Dee Dee. I won’t let you down,” Theresa said.

Dee Dee smiled.

* * *

Yolanda was the last person to arrive for the meeting in Dee Dee’s conference room. Because she was so late, she was tense and jittery.

“Come in, Yolanda, we’ve been waiting for you,” Dee Dee said.

Yolanda walked in, and saw a mask of disapproval on Maxwell’s face. She knew he would talk to her about being late, and it set her more on edge. She sat down between him and Jackie and felt his body shift away from her. Jackie was smiling broadly at her. She smiled back, relieved to see a kind face. She scanned the room and was surprised to see Theresa sitting on the other side of Dee Dee. She had been hoping Dee Dee would have found Sheila’s replacement by now so she wouldn’t have to see her. After that last incident, Yolanda had studiously avoided Theresa, which wasn’t hard to do. Their feelings for each other were mutual, so Theresa stayed away from Yolanda as well.

“You almost missed the best part,” Jackie whispered.

“What?”

“She’s about to announce me—I mean, who the creative director is.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, listen,” Jackie said. Yolanda said a little prayer for Jackie, although she knew she didn’t need it. She knew it was gonna be Jackie. Who didn’t know that?

“…and after much careful deliberation, Behave Hair Salon’s new creative director will be…”

Jackie Townsend, Jackie Townsend…

“Theresa McArthur!” Dee Dee said, clapping loudly.

Stunned silence fell over the room, and then everyone started clapping and offering their congratulations. Yolanda looked at Jackie. She was smiling and clapping loudly. Louder than anyone else, in fact. She seemed genuinely happy for Theresa, but Yolanda noticed her nostrils flaring. And her face was turning a dark red.

“Congratulations Theresa!” Jackie said, walking over to Theresa and giving her a hug. Soon everyone else followed suit, leaving Yolanda the last one to offer her congratulations.

“Congratulations Theresa,” Yolanda said, reaching for a hug, too. Theresa paused for a nanosecond and then gave her a quick hug.

“Girl, you’re so bony! I could break you in half!” Theresa said, laughing.

Why did I even hug this girl? I am so stupid…

“Okay, meeting adjourned. You guys have a great day. Theresa, come by my office in an hour,” Dee Dee said, walking away.

“What are you doing tonight?” Jackie asked Theresa.

“I don’t know. I didn’t have anything planned.”

“Let’s go celebrate!” Jackie said.

“Why don’t we go by my father’s spot? They’re having a Musiq Soulchild concert tonight,” Maxwell said.

“I forgot about that! That’s tonight?” Theresa asked.

“You can get us in? We don’t have tickets…” Yolanda started to ask, then stopped when she saw the annoyed glances from everyone in the room.

“It’s my father’s restaurant, Yolanda. I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting in,” Maxwell said, a smirk on his lips.

“Us in,” Theresa said. She curled her lips at Yolanda. “I’m sure you have plans tonight, don’t you Yolanda?”

“Not that I recall…” Yolanda said.

“I forgot. With that body, you look like you spend a lot of your Saturday nights alone.”

A few people snickered.

“That’s enough, Theresa,” Jackie said, coming to Yolanda’s defense. “Maxwell, you have enough tickets for all of us don’t you?”

“Sure.”

“So, Yolanda you coming?” Jackie asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Yolanda said, eyeing Theresa.

* * *

“So what seems to be the problem?”

“I don’t know. I just feel so out of place. I don’t think I belong here,” Wanda, a new stylist, said, her eyes tearing up.

As assistant manager, it was Yolanda’s job to monitor and maintain morale.

“Wanda, everyone has those days. You just need a couple of weeks to adjust.”

Yolanda remembered her first month at Behave over six years ago. Seeing all the other stylists exhibiting their talents, styling prowess, and self-confidence, she had become convinced she would never measure up. Even the clients were intimidating: businesswomen, politicians, athletes and their wives, sometimes even celebrities. Once, Natalie said she saw Nia Long getting a haircut. But then again, she wasn’t sure, because she really didn’t see her face, just the back of her head as she left. They still argued about it.

Yes, Yolanda knew all too well what this young girl was talking about.

Her earpiece buzzed.

“Yolanda, this is Maxwell. I need to see you in my office ASAP.”

“Okay, I’ll be right up.” She would have to make this quick.

“Like I was saying, this salon can seem a little scary at first…”

“A little scary?”

“Okay, terrifying, but you won’t find another opportunity like this again. How long were you on the waiting list before you got hired?”

“Five months.”

“You came all that way to quit now? I know you’re stronger than that. There are people dying to have your job, but they’re not here. You are. Now toughen up. You can handle it.”

“All right,” Wanda said, sniffling hard.

“Talk to me anytime, okay?” Yolanda said, walking away.

“Hey, where’s the fire?” Natalie said, grabbing Yolanda’s arm.

“Nowhere, girl. Maxwell just called me…”

“Yeah, yeah. Listen, what happened at this morning’s meeting?”

“Um…” Yolanda hesitated. It was against Behave policy to pass on information to employees until the monthly salon meeting, and even then, not everything was discussed. “Nothing really.”

“You’re lyin’.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re a horrible liar, so spill it.”

Yolanda’s earpiece buzzed again. It was Maxwell again.

“Look, I can’t talk about it right now.”

“We have a little bet going on down here, and I just wanna know who the new creative director is.”

“I can’t tell you until the meeting in two weeks…”

“Who is it? I know it’s Jackie, I know it is. Just tell me,” Natalie whined.

“Really, I can’t…”

“Come on, I got $100 bucks riding on this. It’s Jackie, isn’t it?”

“No,” Yolanda said, looking around. I shouldn’t be doing this.

“It’s Theresa,” she whispered.

“Who?” Natalie said, getting closer.

“Theresa. Theresa McArthur.”

“No way.”

“Believe it.”

“Theresa is the new creative director?” Natalie said loudly.

“Shut up!” Yolanda said, looking around to see if anyone had heard.

“I’m sorry, it took me by surprise.”

“I gotta go.”

“What about tonight? We still on for Doneraki?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll call you,” Yolanda said, hurrying past the reception desk. Maxwell’s gonna kill me…

“Miss Peterson?”

“Yes?”

“You have a call on line three,” Karen said.

“Take a message,” Yolanda said, still walking.

“I can’t; they say it’s an emergency.”

“Can I use one of the phones up here?” Yolanda asked.

“Sure, knock yourself out.”

“Hello?”

“Yolanda?”

“Mama, what is it? You said it was an emergency.”

“Well, that was the only way they would let me talk to you. Anyway, how you doing, baby?”

“Mama, I need to call you back, I’m right in the middle of—”

“I know, but I was just thinking about you and decided to give you a holler.”

Yolanda rolled her eyes.

“Mama, I love you but I have to hang up.”

“Oh, baby, ain’t you sweet! I love you, too, baby.

Bye…”

She hung up.

“Thanks, Karen.”

“While you’re up here, I really need the new schedule. You were supposed to give it to me Tuesday.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot…”

“I really need it. Clients are trying to make appointments and…”

“I know how important it is, Karen. I’ll give it to you by 5:00. Is that okay?”

“No, but I guess I’ll make it okay,” Karen said, taking a call.

“Hey Yolanda!” Michelle called out. “I need you to look at yesterday’s inventory order and sign it so I can give it to Maxwell.”

“Can this wait?” Yolanda said, frustrated.

“No, I need you to sign this now so I can work on today’s inventory.”

“All right, all right,” Yolanda said. She looked through the papers, made sure everything was in place and signed the order.

“When does this get logged into the computer?” Yolanda asked.

“After Maxwell approves it. You all right?” Michelle asked. “You look kinda stressed.”

“I am. I’m always running around, sign this, do this. This promotion isn’t as glamorous as I thought.”

“Welcome to the real world,” Michelle said, answering the phone in her Southern twang. “Thank you for calling Behave Hair Salon. This is Michelle. How can I help you today?”

Yolanda walked away and ran to the elevators, bolting through as soon as the doors opened. She knocked on Maxwell’s door, out of breath.

“Come in,” his deep voice boomed.

She walked in apologizing. “I’m sorry about not coming right away—”

She stopped when she saw Theresa sitting in a chair across from Maxwell’s desk.

“Next time try to get here promptly, Yolanda,” Maxwell said curtly.

I hate getting fronted like this, especially in front of Theresa.

Theresa didn’t say a word, not even acknowledging her presence. She looked up at her and a wicked smile crept across her lips. Yolanda turned her head.

“This is a list of people I need you to talk to today. They all need to be given a written warning. They have to sign it. Have it back to me in an hour,” he said firmly.

Yolanda looked at the list. It contained over twenty-five names, from stylists to café workers. The warnings were for lateness, dressing inappropriately, excess customer complaints, among other infractions.

I can’t finish this in an hour!

“You want this in an hour?”

“Will that be a problem?”

“No, it’s just that it’s a lot of people…”

“Yolanda, it’s not brain surgery. Can you handle it or not?”

Yolanda looked at Theresa. That smile was getting bigger. I’m gonna slap that smile off your face.

“You’ll have it an hour.”

“Good,” Maxwell said, turning his attention back to Theresa.

“So back to what I was saying, if we just increased our—Yolanda?”

“Yes?” Yolanda said, still standing by his desk.

“Good-bye,” he said.

Theresa burst out laughing.

Yolanda walked out, Theresa’s laughter chasing her.

She went into the restroom down the hall and looked in the mirror.

“You are a fool.”