Chapter 4
After a good night’s rest, Willow woke up feeling like a new woman. Sitting on the beach had a lot to do with that. The sand on her feet and salt sprinkles in her hair were refreshing.
When she rolled out of bed and checked her phone that morning, there was still nothing from Charlie. He must be giving her the silent treatment since she left home without him. It wasn’t like he would have gone with her anyway.
“Come over, I made breakfast.”
Brandi sent Willow a text just as her mind started to spiral into potential scenarios of what it would be like when she saw Charlie again. It seemed like her best friend was always right on time. Breakfast sure did sound good to her. After a night of drinking and throwing down conch fritters and spicy salsa, her taste buds tingled for more of Sanibel’s goodness.
“Since when do you cook breakfast?”
She teased Brandi about her cooking skills as she poked her head into the kitchen of her oversized beach home.
“I had to learn,” Brandi laughed. “Otherwise, I”d be eating takeout every day. Besides, after I got pretty good at it, I found out that I actually like cooking. It’s calming.”
For years, Willow wondered when Brandi would settle down and find a husband of her own. Maybe have kids, get a pet, something other than being alone. Sometimes, she thought her friend was lonely and that was why she came down so hard on her about Charlie. But the more her marriage declined, the more she realized Brandi was right.
“I have something special planned for us today!” Brandi squealed. “I took the day off because we are going for a dinner party tonight. It’s formal attire, very classy, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun. We have hair and nail appointments at two o’clock, so be ready to go by then.”
“Hair and nails?” Willow chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time I”ve had my hair or nails done.”
The sad look Brandi gave her made her feel low. She felt like she had strayed so far from her womanhood that it was pathetic to other women who saw her.
“Willow, come on. Seriously? You used to love getting your hair and nails done every two weeks. You’re the reason I started going to the salon in the first place.”
She thought back to the time she would spend the entire day at the spa getting pampered and catered to. Getting her hair and nails done was just the half of the cake. Willow would take herself shopping every month, she would do charity events and community bake sales. She did a lot of things before she met Charlie that came to a halt after they got married.
“Yeah.”
Willow took a large bite of bacon.
“I lost myself for a while... But don’t worry, I”ll find that girl who was so full of life before I leave.”
“Good!” Brandi agreed. “I’m not letting you leave here until you do.”
After breakfast, Brandi gave Willow a full tour of everything new in her home. Since the last time Willow was there, she upgraded her tile and kitchen countertops. There were new appliances and a new stove. The island that separated the kitchen and dining room was bigger.
When they went upstairs to check out the bedrooms, Willow was blown away by her new master”s suite. She dreamed of having a room as gorgeous and fitting as Brandi did. But Charlie… Oh, Charlie. He never wanted her to change things up in their home. He was comfortable with the old black and white furniture they had.
“I love this bed! Wow. A supersized California King. I wish I had a bed this big.”
“You can have whatever you want, Willow. It’s there for you to grab just as soon as you’re ready.”
After their tour was over and Willow was all caught up on Brandi’s new decor, she went back over to the cottage to get ready for the salon appointment. Nervousness filled her being and she didn’t know why. She’d been to salons many times in her life but for some reason, going after so long gave her anxiety.
She feared other women would see what Brandi saw—how overbearing her husband was, and think she was a weak woman. From experience, Willow knew how shallow and judgmental a lot of women could be, especially in salons and nail shops.
“You ready?” Brandi asked, as Willow locked up the cottage for the day.
“As ready as I”ll ever be.”
“Okay then, let”s do this!”
Aside from the nervousness she felt, Willow was quite eager to see herself after a makeover. She let Brandi talk her into having creative control over both their looks for the evening, and she was ready to see how it turned out.
“We’re not going to your regular spot?”
Willow noticed they had passed the salon Brandi had loved to go to for years and got anxious again.
“Nope. I found a new spot. The girl I fell in love with, the one who did your hair the last time you were here, she doesn”t work there anymore. And I don’t trust anyone else with my hair, so I had to find someplace new. Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”
She was sure she would love it. Willow felt that any place Brandi trusted with her hair was somewhere any woman should trust because if there was one thing Brandi was a fanatic about, it was her hair.
The new salon they went to was a cute and cozy place just outside the island. It was bigger than the one they used to go to, and there were way more stylists. It was upscale and fancy, the way Brandi liked everything, so it was easy for Willow to see why she drove there instead of going to her regular place.
They spent four hours getting pampered and prepared for their dinner party. The party started at eight that evening, so they left the salon with just enough time to get back home and try on the gorgeous evening gowns Brandi had delivered for them.
“That gown looks amazing on you,” Brandi said. “You will for sure turn a few heads tonight.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Her makeup was done to perfection and so was her hair. Her skin was flawless and the dress fit her frame perfectly. She looked like the woman she remembered herself to be. The fun and outgoing, always down for a good time, Willow.
When they got to the mansion where the dinner party was being held, she and Brandi were shooed from their car by a valet and were pointed to the top of the stairs toward the entrance.
Willow got a good look at the people who were entering before them and felt like she was at some sort of celebrity event. Every man was dressed in a nice suit and tie, and every woman wore her best evening gown with the perfect shades of makeup and most expensive high heels.
“Wow,” she whispered to Brandi. “Did we step into Hollywood just now?”
“Something like it,” Brandi chuckled. “Don’t get all worked up. This will be a cool and laid-back social. Trust me.”
As soon as they walked in, Willow felt like every eye shifted in their direction. After a moment of reading the room and finding her confidence even more, Willow accepted a glass of champagne from a cocktail server and continued to read the room. She felt like she was back in her element; like she was able to be herself and Charlie’s dark cloud was no longer hanging over her head.
“Now that’s what I like to see,” Brandi commended. “I’ll take one of those too.”
“Here you go ma’am,” the server smiled. “You ladies enjoy your evening.”
They mingled around the room for a while before Brandi found them a table in a quiet corner of the mansion. It was a good thing too, because Willow’s feet were on fire from the heels she wore. She hadn’t worn heels in so long. She was surprised she could even stand in them.
“I’m gonna go use the ladies” room,” Brandi said. “I’ll probably grab us some food on my way back, so if you want anything specific, text me.”
“Ok,” Willow said, “I’m gonna sit here and rest my feet for a while.”
When Brandi was out of sight, Willow removed her phone from her purse to see if Charlie had called. There was still no word from him but she wasn’t surprised. Two could play at that game.
There were so many gorgeous men and women around her, all smiling and complimenting each other without a care in the world. They were there to have fun and enjoy a nice meal and drinks with their friends—one of the very things Willow loved to do before she was married.
As she looked around the room, she met eyes with a beautiful man who wore an all black tux with a white button-up underneath. He was tall and toned, and she could tell by the way his jacket fit around his arm and shoulders that he worked out.
When he smiled at her, she shied away at first. When she looked in his direction again, he was on his way over to her. The butterflies in her stomach almost made her flee and leave a glass slipper behind. But he was already there by the time she got the courage to get up.
“Good evening.”
His voice was as deep as the ocean and as smooth as slick. Willow loved the smell of his cologne, too. He smelled like expensive teakwood and the sleekest alpine with a subtle hint of sweetness.
“Hi,” she replied nervously, but hoped it wouldn’t drive him away.
“You here alone tonight? Or waiting for a friend?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah, my friend is using the ladies” room. I’m just resting my feet after standing in these heels.”
He chuckled and nodded his head as if he understood what she meant. Willow figured he might. Judging by how handsome he was, she was willing to bet he had his fair share of women who were just as good looking and wore expensive heels.
“I don’t think I”ve seen you around before,” he said. “I come to these parties often and I think I would remember seeing a woman so gorgeous.”
His compliment made her blush so hard she had to fluff over her hair to hide the redness on her cheeks.
“No, I”m new here,” she said. “Well, I”m not new to Sanibel, but this is my first time coming to a mansion party. If it weren’t for Brandi, I wouldn”t be here tonight.”
“Brandi Jacobs?” he asked.
“That’s right.”
When he chuckled again it made Willow feel as though he might have had an experience with Brandi before. She wasn’t sure of the context of their relationship, but it was evident that he knew her in some way.
“The name’s Lloyd. Sean Lloyd.”
He extended his hand in such a way that Willow couldn’t refuse it.