Chapter 13
Aspen
“I’ve been hearing a lot about you, Aspen. You’ve been here for a little over a year, correct?” Susie asked as she clicked something on her computer screen.
Aspen was sitting across from her in her bright pink and purple office. Everything from the computer monitor to the mousepad to the picture frames on the wall were pink and purple. Aspen hadn’t intentionally dyed their hair to be the same color, but maybe it wouldn’t hurt their chances.
“That’s right, ma’am, I–”
“Please, call me Susie,” Susie said, not for the first time. She’d told Aspen this the last time they were in here pitching an idea for the salon and Charlie’s shelter, but they were nervous and had forgotten.
“Sorry, Susie. I’ve been here for a little over a year. After my divorce, I moved to this side of town, and after just one visit, with all the amazing staff and the beautiful space, I knew I wanted to work here.”
Susie smiled kindly at them. “Thank you for saying so, and I’m very glad you came to work here with us.
It seems the work you and Blair—and now Kristen and a few of the other stylists—are doing is really beginning to make a name for us.
I’ve seen our flyers all over town, at the queer cafe down the road, and even on some online forums for queer safe spaces. ”
Aspen nodded, because they weren’t sure what else to do. There was a picture on the desk of Susie with her arm around another woman, but Susie had never said anything about a partner or spouse so they didn’t want to assume.
“That wasn’t exactly my intent when starting the salon,” she went on. “I wanted it to be inclusive for all folks, regardless of sexuality and gender, but I hadn’t intended to have a queer salon, per se.”
Suddenly, Aspen wasn’t entirely sure why they’d been called into her office. Were they…in trouble? Had they upset Susie in some way?
She clicked her long, manicured nails on the keyboard a few more times before she reached up and grabbed the monitor, swiveling it around for Aspen to see. It had a logo on it, the name Pride Parlor, with scissors making up the ‘a’ and a rainbow next to the words.
“What do you think?”
“What do I…think?” Aspen asked.
“About the logo, but also the name. The salon is approaching its five-year mark, and I’ve been thinking about doing a rebrand anyway.”
Aspen was speechless, something that happened so rarely, all they could do was gape at her.
Susie’s face fell. “Is it too simple? I also have this one.”
She clicked the mouse, and the same logo, but all in neon pinks and purples, filled the screen. “I’ve always loved pink and purple together, and they are in the bi-flag, but I thought something a little simpler would be—”
“It’s great!” Aspen nearly shouted, and Susie blinked at them. “I’m sorry, I was just surprised. I had no idea this was in the works, but…I love it. The name and the rainbow logo. I think it would be amazing for folks to know without a shadow of a doubt that we’re a safe space.”
Susie’s smile returned, but this time with a slight quirk to her brow.
“As part of the rebranding, I also want to take a more focused approach to giving back to the community. I want to support queer-owned businesses and causes that our staff support. I’ve already gotten a few suggestions to host events with the Rainbow Bean. ”
That was amazing news, and much more in line with what Aspen had wanted to discuss. They’d prepared a list of five talking points, practiced it every night for the past week in the mirror, and had been reading it at their station when Kayla called them into Susie’s office.
They didn’t even get the chance to start on number one before Susie clicked her mouse twice and the website Aspen had helped design for Charlie’s shelter appeared.
“Now, the reason I’ve called you in here, aside from vetting the name and logo you will soon be working under, is because I wanted to tell you I was blown away by your fundraiser for the dog shelter.
If you think the owner—who I believe you mentioned was queer? ”
Aspen nodded so hard their hair flopped around like a pink fish. “Yes, ma’am—Susie.”
Susie was too much of a businesswoman to roll her eyes, but her lashes did flutter for a moment.
“Well, if you think the owner would be amenable, I’m interested in discussing permanent sponsorship.
We could host monthly partnership events with the groomers across the street, and I would like to earmark a certain percentage to be donated each year.
We, of course, would ask for sponsorship information to go on the premises, website, and social media—”
“I actually do almost all of that for Charlie,” Aspen interjected, and at Susie’s impressed look, Aspen added, “I feel very safe in agreeing to that much up front.”
“Wonderful. I will need to speak with Charlie and the CFO before agreeing to anything, and I may consult a lawyer in case we need any sort of contracts signed.”
Aspen tried to school their expression, but their left eye twitched.
Charlie didn’t have a CFO. It was just Noah and his spreadsheets right now.
He also didn’t have any sort of legal representation of his own, something Noah had actually been griping about the previous week when they’d gone to Charlie’s house to discuss some new loan opportunities.
Noah didn’t feel comfortable putting his name on documents since he was just a volunteer.
Susie was staring at Aspen, waiting for a response, and Aspen decided, why not take a chance? They’d taken a chance on happiness, pursuing this job, Noah, Rachel, and now Charlie. What was one more shot?
“Charlie doesn’t have an official CFO installed yet, but he has a substantial lead on one and is also looking into getting some legal consulting done for the shelter.
If you would be willing to meet with me, Charlie, and the CFO candidate, I’d be happy to work with Kayla to find a time that works for your schedule. ”
Susie turned the computer screen back around to face her. “There’s no rush on my part. Whenever Charlie and the CFO feel prepared, I’m happy to meet.”
Aspen nodded their head vigorously, already beginning to draft their speech to Noah in their head.
They would start off with something casual like, “So, you know how you’ve literally always hated your job, and how the happiest I’ve ever seen you is when you’re working on business-y stuff with Charlie? Well, do I have a surprise for you!”
“Okay, that sounds perfect,” Aspen said, straightening themself up to their full height in their chair. “Thank you so much for the opportunity. Truly, you have no idea how much this means to me and will mean to Charlie and…the CFO.”
“I really appreciate all of the time and effort you’ve put into this, Aspen. Your work has not gone unnoticed by Lydia or me,” she nodded her head at the framed photograph on her desk.
Aspen wished they could have listed Noah by name, but before they could say anything else, Kayla walked in, having somehow been summoned by Susie. Aspen promised to get back to Susie as soon as possible about a meeting, and Kayla promised to have Susie’s calendar ready.
Aspen’s shift was over, so they gathered their things and hurried out of the salon, dialing Charlie’s number as they went.
He didn’t answer the first time, or the second, but finally, on the third attempt, he answered.
He sounded a bit out of sorts, but Aspen quickly told him what had happened.
They were over a block and a half away from the salon, so they thought it was a respectful enough distance away to let out an excited squeal, accompanied by a few jumps up and down.
“I think this could be the answer we’ve been looking for! We just have to convince Noah that this is what he was meant to do, and I’m sure he’ll agree. Even if it’s only part-time to start, I think this could be so good for him—and you! Oh my god! I’m so excited!”
Charlie’s laugh was soft, but warm. “Thank you, pumpkin. For everything. I would have given up months ago if I had to figure out all this marketing shit, and now you’re basically handing me the solution—or at least, a possible solution.”
“We just need to talk to Noah,” Aspen said, barely able to contain their joy.
“He’s been so worried. I think he was afraid that if you didn’t keep owning and working at the shelter, he might not get to see you anymore.
I know that’s probably not an issue now that we’re in a relationship-ish with each other, but I’m still so happy for you, and I know he will be too. ”
Charlie’s end of the line went silent for so long that Aspen had to check they hadn’t hung up in their excitement.
“Charlie?”
“I think you’re right that Noah has probably been worried about more than just the shelter,” Charlie said slowly. “Have you spoken to him today?”
“No, I don’t think we’ve talked since we left his place after dinner last night.”
“So…you don’t have any messages or calls from him?”
Aspen’s brow furrowed, and they stopped walking. A mother with a stroller veered around them, and a man who had been barreling down the sidewalk like he owned the place had to dodge around them at the last second.
“I don’t know, let me check,” Aspen said, the butterfly in their chest taking up residence in their stomach.
They had a missed call and a voicemail from Noah that they hadn’t noticed when they’d snatched up their phone to call Charlie. Aspen pressed the phone back to their ear and started walking again.
“I actually do have a voicemail. I was going to call him next, but I’m almost home, so I’ll probably just tell him in person.”