Chapter 3
The color client was exactly what Fiona needed. A woman in her forties who was very high-maintenance about her hair. There were a zillion steps involved in getting the precise shade of blonde she wanted, and it would take forever. It was the perfect distraction. It didn’t hurt that this client was a major talker.
But Fiona’s mind wandered. She was going to be out of a job. It wasn’t that she couldn’t find another job. It was that she loved this job. And Norm was one of her closest friends here. It was two major blows at once.
But still, there was an idea, one she was almost too scared to think about. It was a long shot. A massive long shot.
She’d made some friends here through the salon. Stella, the esthetician and makeup artist she often referred her clients to. And Cassie, Stella’s stylist and designer friend.
One night, after too much wine at Stella’s, the three of them hatched a plan to create their own one-stop-shop glam service. Fiona would do the hair, Stella would do skincare and makeup and Cassie would take care of the clothes. Perfect for brides or someone attending a lot of social events. It could be incredible for tourists wanting to look their best for an anniversary or special date night on the town. It was a rough idea, and she doubted they’d go for it, but the potential excited her.
She thought they could find a cute little storefront somewhere, with just enough space for them to have all of their services under one roof. It was fun, the idea of starting something all her own. But she’d need flexible work to get it off the ground. And of course, Stella and Cassie would have to be on board.
Fiona shook her head. Not the time for dreams. For now, she had to pay the bills.
By the time her client’s hair had been trimmed, dyed and styled, Fiona was the last one at the salon. She swept the floor, cleaned up her bowls and brushes, and threw her towels in the wash.
She locked the front door, turned off the lights and took the garbage out to the dumpster in the alley behind the salon. It was still raining, but finally calming down.
She sprinted back to the alleyway door, turned the knob, and shoved against the door. It didn’t budge.
Fiona shivered in the rain. Deep breath, she told herself. Don’t panic.
She fumbled through her pockets, knowing very well the key wouldn’t be there. She must have accidentally turned the lock out of habit before she went outside.
Fiona ducked under an awning in the dark. She’d already locked the front door. She’d locked the back door. All of her things were inside.
Taking a breath, she searched for her phone in her pockets. She’d have to call Norm or Lynn to come let her back in.
She paused, suddenly remembering her phone still sitting on the table at her station. Fiona groaned. This back alley always creeped her out, especially late at night. She took another shaky deep breath, mentally preparing herself for a long walk at night - in the rain - to get some help.
One door down, she saw lights on behind the papered windows. The restaurant.
Before she had a chance to change her mind, Fiona ran through the rain to the back door and started knocking. Almost immediately, Porter opened it.
“Hello?” he asked, bewildered. Fiona’s clothes were soaked. Her hair was sticking to her face, and when she wiped at her cheek, she could tell her makeup was running.
“Can I come in?” she asked, shivering.
“Of course,” Porter said, stepping aside.
It was warm in the restaurant. She had walked in through a meticulously organized stainless kitchen, already prepared with pots and pans hanging from hooks on the ceiling. Through a hallway, she could see tables stacked in the corner, gleaming hardwood floors and a spectacular antique chandelier over the front door.
To her right was a small bathroom, and she caught a glimpse of the mascara running down her face in the mirror.
“I’m sorry,” she told Porter. “I’m the last one at the salon and I locked myself out. I was hoping I could use your phone.”
“Sure,” he said, and turned to head down the hallway. Fiona took the opportunity to step into the bathroom and clean up her face as best as she could. When she walked back out, Porter was waiting with his phone.
“I’m just going to try my boss really quick,” she said, taking it from him. She dialed the number, and two rings in, she remembered it was Marc’s birthday and they’d be out for the night. She left him a message and sent a text, but knew he might not respond right away since he didn’t recognize the number.
Porter was talking to someone in the kitchen. Fiona slumped down onto a stool in the corner.
She could call a cab, but her purse was in the salon.
She had no money, no phone and no house keys.
She couldn’t remember Stella’s or Cassie’s numbers offhand, and they would be home from work by now.
And she didn’t know if or when Norm would get back to her.
She got up and handed Porter his phone.
“Any luck?” he asked. She shook her head.
“I’m sorry to barge in like this,” she said. “I locked myself out once before but Norm – the owner – was there. He’s almost always there.”
Another man stepped out into the hallway. He was shorter than Porter, but his eyes were similar. He smiled brightly at her.
“David,” he said, shaking her hand. “I heard you say you work at the salon?”
“Yep,” she said. “I just cut Porter’s hair this afternoon, actually.”
“I’ll have to get in soon,” David said, ruffling his hair. “My wife has been begging me to go get it cut for weeks.”
“We can get you in,” Fiona said, smiling. But then she remembered the salon was closing. Her heart sank.
“I’m going to unpack more. Nice to meet you.” With a wave, David walked off toward the kitchen.
“So...are you hungry?” Porter asked. He was in a plain black t-shirt now, his hands tucked into his jeans pockets.
Fiona shook her head, already embarrassed. “No, I’ve already come in and disturbed you and used your phone, you don’t need to feed me, too.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, then turned toward the dining area. “I tried out a mac n’ cheese recipe tonight, I wouldn’t mind some feedback.”
Fiona followed him, now painfully aware of how hungry she was.
“Um...okay,” she said. “While I wait for my boss to call back.”
Porter pulled a table from the corner and got down two chairs.
“Have a seat, I’ll be right back.”
Fiona sat at the table - a gorgeous, heavy wooden table with matching chairs. The walls were a stunning blend of ornate floral wallpaper and exposed brick, showcasing the character of the building. The floors had been restored to their former glory, complete with charming imperfections. It was a small space, but Fiona could imagine how welcoming the place would be after it was complete.
Porter returned with two plates piled with mac n’ cheese.
Fiona gaped at him. Her idea of mac n’ cheese came in a box. This was almost a work of art.
Spiral noodles were covered in a sinful amount of cheese, with a breadcrumb layer on top. It was served on a delicate china plate with pale blue and gold flowers decorating the border.
“I’m trying out a different cheese blend for this one,” he told her. “Let me know what you think. You can’t serve subpar mac n’ cheese in the South, so any criticism is welcomed.”
Fiona didn’t wait before digging in. It was absolutely divine. She didn’t know what the cheese blend was, but it was perfection. She could feel him watching her, which would usually make her self-conscious. But right now, she was too hungry to care.
“He does this to everyone,” she heard David yell from the kitchen. “If you stay here too long, you’ll get a five course meal.”
She looked at Porter, who was watching her expectantly. She was momentarily distracted by him, admiring the cut and style she’d given him.
“So…”
Remembering he wanted feedback, Fiona put down her fork and took a sip of water from the glass he’d given her. “Considering I ate it all in under five minutes, yes, it’s fantastic.”
Porter smiled. “I think so too. I’ve been messing with that recipe for months. It was driving me crazy.”
Porter’s phone started ringing in his pocket.
“Is this your friend?” he asked, handing her the phone. She took the phone and nodded, relieved.
“Norm?”
“Fiona, what’s wrong? Whose phone is this?” She could hear a crowd of people and loud music in the background.
“I’m okay, I just got locked out of the salon. I went to the restaurant next door.”
The background noise went silent as Norm stepped outside.
“What restaurant?” he asked, sounding a little frantic.
“It’s new,” she said, glancing at Porter. “I’m okay, but I can’t call anyone to let me back in.”
Norm took a deep breath. “Remember when I said I was concerned about you the most?”
Fiona laughed, but the pain of remembering he was leaving came rushing back.
“I promise I’ll be able to function without you, Norm,” she said, rolling her eyes, not totally confident in that promise.
“Good. Lynn lives the closest, I’ll give her a call. You’ll owe her.”
“Thanks. Just text this number after you talk to her, so I know she’s coming.”
She hung up with Norm and handed the phone back to Porter, who had busied himself sorting through paperwork.
“Thanks again,” she said. “My coworker should be on her way soon. She lives a few blocks away. I’m sorry if I’m holding you guys up.”
She didn’t know what to do now. They were busy working, and she was just there, taking up space. She hoped Lynn would be on her way soon.
“So, when are you opening?”
Porter stepped out from an office area, a pen and notebook in hand.
“Within six weeks, hopefully,” he said.
David snorted. “Not at the rate we’ve been going.”
Porter pulled a chair aside and sat, glancing down at his notebook. “Have a little faith, David. We’ll figure it out.”
“We’re too short handed,” he said, shrugging. He looked to Fiona. “Know any amazing servers looking for a job?”
Fiona thought for a minute, no one coming to mind. “I’m not sure, what positions are you looking to fill?”
“We’ve got most positions filled or are interviewing for them,” Porter told her. “We just need a few more servers.”
The phone dinged on the table, making Fiona jump. “Lynn is on her way,” the text said, and Fiona breathed a sigh of relief.
“My coworker should be here any minute,” she said, standing. “Thanks again, I really appreciate it.”
She handed the phone back to Porter, who just said “No problem,” and walked to a back room.
Fiona peeked out from behind the paper on the windows until she saw Lynn pull up in her electric blue Toyota.
“She’s here,” Fiona yelled to David. “Good luck getting everything ready.”
“Thanks, don’t forget to send us some servers!” David yelled back from the kitchen. “You can go out that front door.”
Fiona unlocked the door and stepped out into the rain, feeling an odd mix of relief and disappointment.