Chapter 9
Angie
Your hand, touching mine.
This is how galaxies collide.
~ Sanober Khan
Over the next few weeks, EJ stops by the salon regularly on his way home from work.
He takes me out to lunch whenever I don’t have a midday customer.
And he and I text or call almost every night once the boys are in bed.
The first thing he asks about is how my day went.
And the second is always about the boys.
He’s making it clear they aren’t an afterthought.
I never thought I’d let a man into my life again.
EJ came out of the woodwork with his thoughtful persistence.
He’s always been on the periphery. Now he’s becoming someone I want to talk to daily.
I look forward to our time together. It’s easily becoming the highlight of my days.
I can’t believe I almost didn’t let him have a chance.
We still haven’t said anything to the boys.
Things are moving quickly between us, but I have to be careful for their sake.
Goofing around at a grocery store is a far cry from allowing a man into their lives.
I stare into the mirror, at my customer, one of the seniors in town.
“I’m thinking about pink hair,” Mabel says to me.
“Pink?” I say, draping her in a cape. “What’s the occasion?”
“Does there need to be an occasion?” she asks.
“I thought maybe you were getting fancy for Bordeaux Days this weekend.”
“No. I just want to show Esther and Memaw I’ve still got it in me.”
“We could do extensions.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I have to wait longer to get it done?”
I chuckle softly. “No. They’re like strips of hair. You clip them in and you can take them out.”
“You don’t think I’ve got it in me either, do you?”
“Mabel.” I pop my hand on my hip and stare at her. “I know you have it in you.”
“Well then, color me pink.”
“Pink it is,” I say, smiling at her.
I hope I have half the spunk she does at her age.
I mix the color in the back and bring the bowl out to my station, sectioning Mabel’s hair, placing a foil and spreading the color from root to tip.
“So,” she says. “I heard you’ve been spending time with EJ Clark.”
“You heard that, did you?”
“Well, have you?”
“You already know I have,” I say with a smile.
“Angie, I’m asking you for details here. Are you going to make me beg at my age?”
“Don’t you go pulling the age card on me, Mabel. Not when you and I both know you’re not even close to old.”
She smiles. “Darn straight. Now give me all the details. When did this start? How’d he get you to say yes? What do your boys think?”
I’m smiling right along with her until she brings up my boys.
“The boys don’t know yet,” I admit.
Laura looks at Mabel. “Stop pestering Angie. She’s happy. She’ll tell her boys in good time.”
“I’m not pestering,” Mabel says. “Makes sense not tellin’ them until you’re sure you’re serious. You don’t want to confuse their little minds with men traipsing in and out of your life.” She pauses and adds, “Not that men traipse in your life. Or out. Heavens. How long has it been, Angie?”
“I haven’t dated anyone since the boys were born,” I admit.
“Goodness gracious,” Mabel says as if I’ve just told her I have a chronic and fatal condition. “That’s what I thought.”
I look over at Laura and she smiles softly at me.
“I’m thinking of telling them soon,” I say.
It’s only Mabel, Laura and Mrs. Fickett, Laura’s customer, here in the salon.
“Oooh,” Mabel says, sitting up just a bit taller. “This is good. So, you really like him?”
“I do. I might even be ready to let the boys hang out with him.”
Laura glances over at me. This is the first she’s hearing of my plans … or sort-of plans. I don’t have actual plans. Not yet, anyway.
I wish I hadn’t gotten so rusty when it comes to men, but it is what it is.
“I’d build up to it if I were you,” Mrs. Fickett says.
“Go somewhere neutral and have EJ show up as if you didn’t know he was coming—at a park, maybe.
He can just start playing with the boys as if it’s any other Tuesday.
Do that a few times. Once the boys are used to EJ showing up, tell them you like him. ”
“You make it sound so easy,” I say with a sigh.
“It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Mabel says. “You know most people don’t remember much of what happened to them before age five. If you and EJ get together when the boys are young, they’re barely going to remember a time he wasn’t a part of their lives.”
“Whoa,” I say like I’m pulling the reins on a horse. “Slow down there. We’re not getting … We’re just … We’ve only started seeing one another recently.”
Have I entertained thoughts of a future with EJ? Yes. Daily. But there’s something about hearing Mabel talk about us as if I’m picking out a reception cake flavor this week that makes me short of breath.
Laura smiles at me and then tells our customers. “He’s been coming in daily to see her.”
“Ooooh,” Mabel says, smiling broadly. “And you know you like him?”
“I like him a lot.” I feel the prickle of a blush rise up my neck.
“And you already know what you don’t want in a man,” Laura says.
She’s lived through it all with me.
“I most certainly do.” I nod.
“It’s just a matter of time then.” Mabel gives a single bob of her head as if I’m as good as engaged.
Laura simply grins over at me.
“One step at a time,” I say. “Maybe I’ll arrange for him to meet us at the park after Bordeaux Days. We can go from there.”
“Angie Clark,” Mabel says under her breath. “I do like the sound of that.”
I don’t say a thing. I like the sound of it too, but EJ and I only started dating a month ago. I might know what I want, but I’m not in a rush to get there—especially because the boys need time to catch up.
An hour later, Mabel’s hair is washed, dried and curled. I went with a lighter pink and it does look … well, a little like Lady Gaga and an Easter egg had a baby, and now that baby collects Social Security. But in a good way.
“I love it!” Mabel exclaims.
The front door to the salon swings open.
EJ walks through and my smile spreads at the sight of him.
“Hey, Angie,” he says, his eyes focused on me to the exclusion of everyone else in the salon.
“Hey,” I say back.
His gaze darts to my mirror and he takes in Mabel.
“Wow. That’s some pink hair, Mabel,” EJ says.
“You like it?” she asks.
“I think it’s amazing.”
Good save. Leave it to EJ to be diplomatic.
“That’s what I think,” Mabel says, eyeing herself in the mirror, fishing around in her purse and pulling out a tube of fuchsia lipstick. She smears that on her lips and smiles.
“Someone better take me to dinner!” she exclaims, standing and handing me a check.
I shrug. “I’d offer, but I have to get home to the boys.”
“Not you, dear,” Mabel smiles. “I’m thinking of a man in town. Only, I don’t know which one.” She pats me on the arm. “Keep us posted, Angie.”
“You know I won’t have to.”
She walks out past EJ, whispering something to him on her way.
“What did she say?” I ask him when the door shuts behind her.
“Oh, I can’t tell. It’s relationship advice.”
“I can only imagine.” I start sweeping up. EJ crosses his arms and watches me, a warm smile on his face.
He’s given up asking if he can sweep for me after the first few times he offered.
I pop my broom into the dustpan handle and grab my purse.
“Need anything else?” I ask Laura.
“Get out of here,” she says. “I’ve got everything.”
EJ walks ahead of me, holding the door open.
Then he places his arm around my shoulders and escorts me to my car.
I almost tell him I’m thinking of setting up a time for us to meet with the boys after Bordeaux Days, but my tongue feels like lead.
We reach my car and I turn to him. “You don’t have to stop by every single night just to walk me to my car.”
“Are you telling me not to?” he asks.
“No.”
“Good, because it’s the bright spot in my day, Angie.” EJ picks up my hand and links my fingers with his. His next words stall out. “I … uh …”
He runs his free hand through his hair.
“What?”
“I miss you,” he says softly.
I run my thumb across the back of his hand. “That’s sweet.”
The hint of a shy grin tugs at his lips, making him look boyish and vulnerable.
We stare into one another’s eyes.
I lift my head to meet his gaze, and a warm flush rises across my cheeks. My voice cracks when I speak. “I miss you, too.”
His grin explodes into a full smile. His hand flies up to his chest. “Say it again.”
“No.” I laugh softly.
“Please?”
The urge to touch EJ—to be wrapped in his arms—overwhelms me.
I only hesitate for a moment and then I step toward him, placing my hand on his arm. “I miss you, too.”
His lips are on mine in a heartbeat, firm and insistent. My surprise is followed by a flood of relief at the contact, and then a wave of heat. My shoulders drop and I sag into his embrace, meeting his hunger with my own desire for him.
The realization settles over me. It’s never been like this before—a persistent longing that can only be satisfied when he’s near enough to touch me, this sense that he’s my person. Everything about EJ just fits.
I freeze for a beat. EJ notices and his kiss grows tender, less frenzied.
His hands run gently down my arms, resting on my hips and .
.. What was I thinking about, anyway? His lips dance with mine and I forget where we are, looping my hand behind his neck and running my fingers through the short hairs—silken softness against warm skin.
He lets out a low rumbling sound and pulls back, glancing around.
My ragged breath fills the space between us. Can he hear my heartbeat?
“I lose my mind around you,” he says, pursing his lips in this adorable expression that’s half distraught, half amused. My forearm is still resting on his shoulder, my hand toying with his hair. I sigh, stepping back from him. “I’d better get home to the boys.”
EJ nods, opening the door to my van so I can slip into the front seat.
At the mention of the boys, I almost suggest we meet at a park after the Bordeaux Days weekend is behind us. But then he says, “I’ll call you tonight after they’re in bed.”
So I just answer him. “Sounds good.” And then I add, “And I’ll see you over the weekend.”
“I was thinking about that.” He stands in the space between my seat and the door, staring in at me. “Can you get away Saturday night?”
“I might be able to. The boys will probably go down early after a long day at the festival.”
“I’d love to see you.”
“Let me ask Mom if she can stay with the boys and I’ll let you know.”
I’ll probably be exhausted at the end of a long day of volunteering and corralling the twins, but that isn’t going to keep me from a rare opportunity to be alone with EJ for a few hours.
“Okay. Drive safely,” EJ says, taking a step backward.
“I’ll talk to you later tonight,” I say as he shuts my door.
I turn the key and drive away, glancing up once to catch a glimpse of him watching me go.