Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
By the time she was through washing my hair, I needed a cigarette and a nap. I wasn’t allowed to look while she used the brush and dryer method to curl my hair or when she put the rollers in after for whatever reason.
I closed my eyes when she started trimming the ends because I’ve had a bad experience with a scissor-happy stylist in the past, and it had taken me a minute to grow it back out over the years.
“Sweet Georgia Wine, your hair looks amazing.” My eyes snapped open at Sheila’s outburst, and there it was. “Ali McGraw with feathered hair.” She’s always saying I look like Ali McGraw, but the only thing I ever saw that lady in was Love Story and it was so sad I never looked at anything with her in it again.
The hair reminded me of those shows my Mama used to watch when I was younger: big fat curls that were brushed out until they looked almost natural on my straight hair.
“Shake your head, chica.” I did as I was ordered, and the effect was amazing. Or it could’ve been the alcohol. Whatever, I was ready for whatever came next. Mae Lee did my nails and kept it classy, just a normal French manicure and not the talons Maeve tried to talk me into getting.
From there, she dragged me to the shopping center closer to home. “I have clothes, some I haven’t even worn yet.”
“Those are old married woman clothes; we need a new look to go with that hair. If we can get a man on the moon I saw we can get one on you tonight.” What the hell?
JOLENE
“I don’t know about this.” I turned this way and that in the mirror.
“What don’t you know?”
“Is this appropriate? I’m a mother of four.”
“And I’m a mother of five, so what are you saying?”
The outfit was cute but seemed too young, though not really. It’s just that I haven’t worn anything like this since forever, if ever, and I didn’t want to come across as one of those women who try too hard to look younger than they are.
It was an off-the-shoulder jumpsuit with a belt at the waist that cinched everything in and fit too well in some places. I don’t know the last time I remember, I had breasts, but there was no mistaking them tonight.
I realized what the problem was quickly enough, though. I hadn’t seen myself as a sexual being in a long time, and this outfit screamed come and get it. The heels they dragged out of my closet hadn’t been worn in years because they’re about three inches high does amazing things for my legs and thighs but hurt my back like hell if I wear them for too long.
I guess a few hours wherever they’re taking me won’t be too bad, as long as she wasn’t expecting me to dance in these things. My house became party prep central, meaning that’s where the three of us got dressed because there was no one underfoot to get in the way.
Sheila made a batch of margaritas, which we polished off before we were even out the door. I was surprised to see Jonathan at my door when it was time to go. “I’m just the driver; don’t panic. My wife claimed she don’t trust you nor her sister not to get drunk tonight, and since I don’t trust none of you, I’ll be driving and picking up when you’re done.”
I gave my sorta brother-in-law a peck on the cheek and thanked him for looking out for us. One of the lessons you don’t need to learn twice is once you have to come to the local precinct to pick up your wife, her sister, and her best friend because one of your buddies took them in for streaking across the golf course in their underway and running through the sprinklers high off their ass off of wacky weed.
I guess he wasn’t looking for a repeat, though that had been years ago, and we’d done worse since then, just never got caught.
I almost didn’t get out of the car when they pulled up to this place with a line going around the block. This is some high school college-age bullshit and not suitable for mature women. Too late, Sheila kissed her husband goodbye, and by the time I looked around, Maeve, who had been sitting next to me, was at my door, pulling it open. “Out!”
She must’ve seen the panic on my face because she didn’t even give me a chance to say no before starting to walk away. She walked right to the front of the line and gave the bouncer something that he nodded at, and removed the rope for the three of us to enter, which made the people in the front of the line feral.