Proof #5
“You don’t know how he feels.” Edna replied looking up at him with a knowing smile.
Her small frame was wrapped in the largest and thickest sweater he had ever seen.
She gave him a pat on the arm and smiled at him- which looked strange when her lopsided brown wig was partially obscuring her face. “That can always be difficult.”
“No. I do. I just- I’m just afraid that he doesn’t actually know how he feels.” Jacob sighed as he put down the knife. Sharp objects were best avoided at the moment. “I’m worried that he might be just caught up in it all or something. Like it’s not real.”
“Well you can’t control how someone else feels. But you should still be open and honest with them about how you feel.” Edna responded, sounding more like a grandmother with each word. He half expected her to pull out a butterscotch from her purse.
“I just need to know what I should be doing. I want to make sure he’s okay.”
“You’re protective of him. That’s sweet.” Edna said. She was rapidly becoming the favorite. “Would you like a butterscotch?” Oh yeah -Edna was the favorite for sure.
“How do you know what to do in these situations?” Jacob asked.
“You don’t. You just gotta take a risk.” Darlene piped in. She smiled at him this time showing that only some of her teeth were coated in peach lipstick. “The only thing you can control is yourself.”
Jacob looked down into the soup bowl as he slid the chopped veggies into the broth. He sighed. It was good to talk about these things, but he still felt lost. At least there was a certain degree of acceptance here. He felt like he could trust them.
He wished there was something he could do to help encourage them to have a bit more fun. And then he realized that maybe there was.
He grabbed a bottle of juice from the fridge and poured each of the ladies a small glass and got to work.
These ladies work so hard for others. I want them to have a good timeHe held the thought in his head and felt himself compelled to grab a dash of cinnamon, black pepper and a little dash of nutmeg.
It smelled something like Christmas and when he poured it all together he could feel his thoughts settle into the drink.
Have fun. Let go. Enjoy.
With the thought firmly compelled into the beverage, he poured them each a little shot and put the rest in the fridge to save for later. If he was going to be back, he wanted to ensure he made some extra.
“Well, you’ve all worked hard. Who wants to take a little break to have a drink?” Jacob offered. They didn’t need much convincing.
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Edna said as she downed her glass in one sharp gulp. Clearly something she had done many times before. Oh yeah- Edna was his favorite.
“You know we really shouldn’t be dipping into the drink supply like this.” Darlene said after she’d taken a generous sip of her cup. “Is this alcohol?” Rhonda asked, eyeing the drink with some suspicion. “No. Definitely not.” Jacob responded.
“Well Jesus turned water into wine, imagine what he could do with this.” Edna responded and Jacob smiled.
“Bottoms up!” Rhonda chuffed as she cheers to their health and took a big gulp.
“Oh come now Rhonda. The boy is right there.” Edna nudged her- and Jacob laughed so hard the wine shot out his nose.
23
Affogato.
With the ladies to entertain him and share all their gossip (of which there was much), the half hour passed quickly, and Jacob and Joe were reunited on the front steps of the church. Jacob was there holding a cigarette and attempting to look cool. He didn’t think it was working.
“I didn’t know you smoked.” Joe said.
“I normally don’t. But someone offered and it’s a church- it would be rude to say no.” He took a drag of the cigarette a generous stranger had offered him, and proceeded to cough up a lung. “Does it give me a sexy French allure?”
“No.” Joe responded.
“Oh thank god. I wasn’t about to start now.” Jacob said, butting the cigarette out in an ashtray. “How was your meeting?”
“Complicated, but we managed to work it out. We came to a solution everyone can agree on that will be widely beneficial for all of us. And they’re going to be helping me with a very big and exciting project.” Joe said. “How about you? Did you get up to anything special?”
“I did a small tour to check the space out, and then pretty much hung out with the church ladies again. They’re a fun bunch. Very chatty.”
“They say gossip is a sin, but I don’t know if it’s worth repenting over.” Joe shrugged. “Besides, what else are we going to talk about when the chats are so delightfully absurd.” Jacob smiled. “Where to now?”
“I thought you’d never ask. Come on- I know a place we can go.
” Joe responded, taking Jacob by the hand and leading him away from the church.
As they walked the conversation flowed. It felt nice and comfortable.
Even with his concern over Tic, something felt easy today- natural even.
Joe discussed the operations of the church with such excitement Jacob couldn’t help but get wrapped up in it.
“What was Jeff doing there?” Jacob asked after a few minutes. “Hes one of my men.” Joe responded.
“Like… a disciple or something?” Jacob asked.
“Of sorts. He’s a keen study. There was something that I wanted him to help me out with and I think he managed to sort it out.”
“He did?” Jacob asked. “Was it something to do with stamps?” “Not quite.” Joe laughed before pausing and thinking about it. “But maybe.”
“Hey, is it okay if we stop by Tic’s work? I’m just worried about him and I want to see if he’s there.” Jacob said. “I still haven’t heard back and would just like to see him to ensure he’s okay.”
“Where else would he be?” Joe asked.
“It’s just not like him to just disappear. Even if this was a hook up, I’d probably have received at least a couple dozen pictures by now.” “A couple dozen?”
“He’s very popular online. I know this is a lot, but I’ve got this really terrible feeling after last night.
I just need to ensure he’s okay.” “Yeah- that’s fine.
Let’s head over there. Maybe walk through the park first and-” Joe responded, but Jacob gripped his hand with an intensity that surprised him.
“I just- I just need to know he’s okay first before I can relax. He’s my best friend and this is… I’m just concerned.” Joe nodded, seeing the intensity in Jacob’s eyes.
“Yes. Of course. I’ll follow you.”
24
Double Double. (worst)
The salon was a beautiful one. Very extravagant with black and white wallpaper and bright pink accents that somehow made the entire place feel expensive but also like a place you’d see on a terrible reality decorating show.
The space was colourful and dynamic and really fit well into Tic’s aesthetic of “Yes, and?”
Entering the space was like walking into a cloud that smelled of baby powder and disinfectant. There was a buzz in the place as Jacob moved to the front counter where Cookie, the receptionist, was chewing her gumand possibly working.
“Is Tic here?” Jacob asked. For a moment he marvelled that she wasn’t on the phone, but then he realized that she was on bluetooth.
“Nuh huh.” She replied, shaking her blonde bob in a nondistinct way.
“Is that a yes or a no?” She blinked and repeated it back to him.
“Nuh huh.” She stated with a blank expression.
“Never mind.” Jacob responded and went up to Tic’s chair- which was empty.
He took a look around the venue but couldn’t see anything useful. His space, which by now would usually be at least semi disastrous, remained as untouched as a condom in a bathhouse.
“He’s not here.” Jacob exclaimed as Joe followed him in.
“Maybe he’s just stepped out for lunch?” Joe asked.
“He’s a tiny gay Hispanic man! He doesn’t eat!”
“I’m sure he’s fine.” Joe urged.
“I don’t know Joe. I got a bad feeling about all this.
I just wish I knew where he was.” Then Jacob saw Fleur, a close friend of Tic’s and a fellow artist at the salon.
They were the type to give you a look if you hadn’t heard the latest socialite drama and made Tic look like a warm affectionate person.
They had a familiar scowl on their face as they attempted to float through the space without drawing attention.
“Wait, Fleur! Come back.”
“My name is Fleur. Not Fleur.” Fleur said with all the enthusiasm they could muster in their highly monotone voice. To Jacob’s ears, both pronunciations sounded exactly the same.
“Of course. Fleur-” Jacob began, but Fleur just glared at him with renewed intensity.
“Whatever- What is it?” Fleur asked as they stirred a bunch of shiny goop in a cup. Their accent was thick even if they were not.
“It’s Tic. Have you seen him? Heard anything from him? He’s been MIA all day and I just need to know-”
“Of course I have not seen that little shit. He completely ghosted his shift today and now we all need to pick up the slack.” They pursed their lips which were glossy and plump. “When you see him, tell him Fleur does not approve.”
“Okay. Thanks Fleur.” Jacob responded.
“It’s FLEUR.” They rolled their eyes and fluttered away. “Now I have a blonde who needs me or her hair will turn green. If you see this little dickhead, and he is not dead, tell him I shall do it next time I see him.”
“No one’s heard from him. No one’s seen him-” Jacob looked to Joe. “Should we go to the police?”
“They won’t be able to do anything until it’s been 24 hours. By then who knows- maybe he’ll have shown up again.” Joe said. “I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding.”
“This really isn’t like him. I’m worried, Joe.” Jacob bit his lip.