Chapter 25 Jade #2
Jade had come into her happiness last year, after mending her heart and stepping into her life here. Getting the salon off the ground, meeting Lucy, the dads, even Chucky … Jade was blissfully content. Her mind drifted, and for the first time in forever, she dreamed.
What if this article did kickstart something bigger?
Maybe it would bring in so many clients that she’d have to expand or, or!
, she’d open a chain. Years ago, she’d created a mood board, cutting out pictures from hairstyling and décor magazines, envisioning what a second salon’s name would be.
Jade the 2nd? Or Jade’s East? Jade Part Two?
The thrill had energised her for weeks until reality set in and marriage issues took over.
When she moved to Minnesota, Jade had tossed that board into the trash and scolded herself for being so na?ve.
But what if this article, or perhaps winning the award, was the key turning point? Maybe that mood board would become reality after all. Maybe it was time to pull that dream out of the garbage …
‘Well, I tell ya. I’m just real proud of you,’ Mrs Dieterman said. ‘Be as humble as you want, but don’t sell yourself short on what a big deal this is. There are hundreds and hundreds of salons in the Twin Cities and beyond. Tough competition. And you are a damn finalist. Be proud.’
God, if it wasn’t straight out of the ‘what not to do with a client’ handbook, Jade would’ve hugged Mrs Dieterman and squeezed for an uncomfortably long time.
Be proud. Where had she last heard those words?
She wracked her brain. Maybe when she was a freshman in high school and her team won the basketball championship?
After bucking her parents’ life plan for her, they definitely didn’t say they were proud when she graduated from ‘beauty school’, or when she opened her salon, or started a new life.
But suddenly, these words were filling a hole that she hadn’t realised even existed.
‘Now, I bet that lady friend of yours is happy for you.’
Jade wrapped hair around a curling rod and tucked it against Mrs Dieterman’s scalp. ‘Oh yes. Super excited for me.’ I think.
Lucy was ecstatic when Jade first told her.
Hugs and kisses and some amazing celebration sex.
But since then, she hadn’t asked about it once.
Although, once again, that selfish gremlin crept up on Jade’s shoulder and tapped her.
It was crappy for Jade to expect Lucy would talk about this in between appointments, sore feet, insomnia, and her work.
Jade rolled the standing dryer to Mrs Dieterman. After setting the timer, she went to her office, grabbed a yogurt, and checked her unread messages.
Lucy: Want to grab some dinner tonight at the vegan restaurant off 8th?
Lucy: Yes, vegan. You heard me right. But that salt-and-pepper tofu was Da Bomb Diddy Bomb.
Lucy: Ignore that last part. I meant to say the tofu was delicious.
Jade took a bite of yogurt and held the spoon in her mouth as she typed.
Jade: The Minneapolis Times reporter will be here at 5, so it will have to be after that.
Three bubbles appeared.
Lucy: Oh shoot! I forgot. That’s right. Good luck, you are going to knock it out of da park.
Lucy: No more da’s. I don’t think it’s working for me. You’re going to do amazing. Betty Yellow and I can pick you up at 6.
The GIF she sent of a rainbow beam shooting from a woman flexing muscles couldn’t shake Jade’s instant urge to cry.
Jesus, Lucy was the pregnant one, but Jade was getting emotional over the silliest things!
Ridiculous. Pregnancy brain was a real thing, and she needed to cut Lucy a huge amount of slack.
Drew had sent Jade an article about this phenomenon a few weeks ago with a message along the lines of giving her space-cadet girlfriend a break.
The article dived in about extra hormones, lack of solid sleep, and increase in blood volume, making pregnant women foggy and forgetful.
Jade inhaled through her nose, let the comment go, and plastered on a smile for her next client.
Later that afternoon, after she finished her last client of the day, she rushed to her office and changed.
Not a button-down, much to Mrs Dieterman’s eventual dismay.
Jade still wanted to look like herself, but a more elevated, professional version of herself.
So ripped skinny jeans, heels, a Stevie Nick’s T-shirt and a black quarter-sleeve blazer for the win.
A knock at the door sounded, and she cracked it open.
‘Damn, woman. You clean up nice.’ Amanda flipped her long black braids behind her back. ‘You ready for your photo shoot?’
‘God, I hope so.’
‘I just finished cashing out the last client, and the team is cleaning.’ She flipped her wrist to look at her watch. ‘She still coming in about ten minutes?’
‘Yep.’ Jade glanced in the mirror and plucked a chunky bang from her face. ‘I have like two seconds to pomade and apply some eyeliner.’
‘You nervous?’
Jade swiped black liner across her lids and added gloss. ‘A little.’ She dragged her pinky under her eyelid and moved to the left eye. ‘What if I sound like a complete idiot?’
Amanda scrunched her face. ‘I’ve never heard you sound like an idiot. You’re wicked smart, a great boss, and funny to boot.’
‘Are you trying to get a raise? ’Cause it’s totally working.’
‘I mean …’ Amanda smiled. ‘But really, I’m serious.
The crew has mad respect for you, the clients love you.
Just be yourself, and you’re gonna nail this.
’ She tapped her fingers against the door frame.
‘I just think this whole sitch is really damn impressive. Queer Female Entrepreneur. You’ve already broken barriers, you know.
Like, you punched through the glass ceilings.
And now this. Besides, you’re totally going to win. I can feel it.’
Between Amanda and Mrs Dieterman, Jade was two steps away from being a blubbering mess. She grabbed lip gloss from her drawer. ‘It’s just an honour to be nominated.’
Amanda rolled her eyes with a wide smile. ‘Such bullshit.’
Jade threw up her hands. ‘Okay fair. I really, really want to win.’
The door jingled, and Amanda’s eyes widened. ‘Okay, I’m sneaking out the back to leave you alone. Quick teeth check?’
‘Yes, please.’ Jade smiled and Amanda’s eyes travelled her teeth.
‘You’re good. You got this. Cannot wait to read the article.’
Jade had no idea how much she’d needed a pep talk from a twenty-year-old. She shook out her hands, low exhaled, and walked to the front.
A woman was stomping the snow off her feet on the mat.
As Jade approached, the woman unravelled a heavy knitted scarf from her neck and shook out her brown curly hair.
‘This much snow? Come on.’ Her smile was warm and inviting, and fine wrinkles feathered out from the corners of her eyes.
‘Hey, there. I’m Caroline, from the Minneapolis Times.
’ Her gaze travelled the salon – from the dark leather chairs, to the multiple plants, to the huge, colourful paintings of scissors and a comb that Jade ordered from an incredible artist back in Chicago.
‘This place is great. I can already see why people love it.’
‘Hey, I’m Jade.’ They shook hands. ‘Great to meet you. And thanks. I really love this place, too.’
Caroline hung up her jacket and twisted her neck to look out the window. ‘My photographer is parking now. Let’s go through the logistics …’
For the next hour, Jade posed in various places. She attempted to strike a balance that represented her image – strong, confident, and authoritative, while also being warm and fun.
Caroline graciously offered to model so the photographer could get an action shot. Jade grabbed a roller brush and hairdryer and pretended to work.
Caroline took notes in an old-fashioned flip notebook, but she also recorded everything on a voice memo app. She asked the questions that Jade had prepared for – how long she’d been in business, what she liked about Minnesota, a fun client story from the past year.
‘I think we’re just about wrapped up.’ Caroline strummed her pen against the notepad. ‘Any last words?’
As fun as this was, Jade also felt like she’d just given mental birth.
How did people do this all the time? Being on, answering questions while trying to sound clever, but not too clever, was damn hard.
‘I really appreciate all this. Minnesota is a tight-knit, family-orientated state, and …’ Jade grinned as she shrugged.
‘I’m still an outsider. I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life, and I was worried I wouldn’t feel like this place was home.
But the city has wrapped its arms around me. ’
Caroline clicked off the recorder. ‘That’s awesome. Perfect ending.’
The photographer said he’d load the truck and left the women momentarily alone.
‘Thank you, Jade. This was so much fun. The article releases next Tuesday, and they’ll announce the winners at the May banquet. I’ll send the photo proofs to you for review.’
The door opened and Lucy stomped in, smacking her wool mittens together as snow dusted to the ground. She glanced between Jade and Caroline. ‘Oh sorry! Yikes. I thought you’d be done by now.’ Lucy took off her coat and hung it on the rack.
Jade grinned. She could not wait to tell Lucy everything that had happened in the last hour. ‘Hey, no worries.’ She gave Lucy a quick kiss, then motioned to Caroline. ‘We were just wrapping up. Lucy, meet Caroline. Caroline, this is my girlfriend, Lucy.’
‘Nice to meet you. Gah. I’m so sorry. I have to use the bathroom.’ Lucy pointed at her belly. ‘Baby shifted and is like hammer-dancing straight on the bladder.’ She frowned at her words, then scooted away without waiting for a response.
Caroline tugged on her jacket. ‘Are you two having a baby?’
God, no. ‘No, she’s a gestational carrier for her friend and his husband.’