Chapter 10
Kelsi
“A good start is half the work.”
~ Rowan O’Sullivan
“Wow.” Destiny released her long, red locks from the ponytail she’d pulled her hair back in and touched her cheek as we walked towards the front of the salon. “I can’t believe how hydrated my skin feels. Ever since I had Lilah, my skin has been as dry as the Sahara. I’ve tried some at-home facials and every moisturizer under the sun, but nothing worked. Kelsi, you’re a miracle worker.”
Destiny Briggs was my first client in Wishing Well, and I was so relieved that she was happy with her results. In small towns, word of mouth was either the kiss of death or your golden ticket. You lived or died by your reputation, and I needed things to go well here.
Before Destiny’s appointment, Bella told me that Destiny grew up here and was the town sweetheart. She’d married JJ Briggs, probably some relation to Sawyer Briggs, and she owned the bakery two doors down. Her spreading the word would be the best free advertising I could get, and I needed it.
I had to rebuild my savings so I could retain another lawyer to petition for custody of Milo since my mother refused to sign over her rights, even though she’d been sentenced to ten years and would probably end up serving half of that which meant she wouldn’t even be out until Milo was eighteen.
That woman’s selfishness never ceased to amaze me.
“Wow! You’re glowing!” Bella enthused when she saw Destiny.
“I feel so refreshed,” the pretty redhead beamed, “like a whole new woman.”
It was such a great feeling to help women feel better about themselves and the fact that I’d used my own products to do it was all the more satisfying.
“Oh,” I snapped my fingers. “I forgot to grab your samples. I’ll be right back.”
I’d been making my own lotion, body wash, and shampoo since I was in fourth grade and saw an episode of Pee-wee’s Playhouse where they made soap from natural ingredients around the house. I was obsessed with creating new potions for a few years but then got distracted by other things like trying to raise Milo after he was born.
Once I got my esthetician license and began using the products available to me I wasn’t so impressed with them, so my childhood passion resurfaced. Within six months I had a stable of clients that swore by my face and body lotions and were addicted to my toning oils. I’d been in talks with a distributor for the past year and had been working towards launching my website, but that all required capital, which I’d been able to build, but was gone now. I was disappointed that I had to put off launching my beauty line but more than that I was glad I had the money at my disposal when Milo needed it. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t.
I grabbed some sample lotions and toners to give to Destiny and enough for her to give her friends if she wanted to. As I was leaving my treatment room, which I’d decorated with my just breath painting, various candles, a eucalyptus plant, a Himalayan salt lamp and my beloved twinkle light tree, which now reminded me of the pond at Bryson’s parents’ house, I saw my phone light up on my cabinet. Before I’d been responsible for Milo, I turned my phone off religiously whenever I was with a client, but now, I just put it on silent.
When I saw that it was a text from Bryson, my heart beat faster, and I wasn’t sure if it was because I was worried that Milo had done something to get in trouble or if it was just that it was Bryson. Probably both.
Last night was one of the most fun nights I’d had in…I couldn’t remember how long. After we ate the best pizza I’d ever tasted, Bryson said it was time for Goliath’s walk and asked us to join them. I tried to decline, but between all three of them giving me puppy dog eyes, I folded like a house of cards. After the walk, I thought I would be able to exit gracefully. But I was wrong. As we rounded the corner that Bryson’s house was on, he asked if anyone wanted ice cream. So, we stayed for ice cream, and I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since.
I grabbed my phone and opened the text. It was a GIF of balloons being released then champagne glasses clinking and the words “Cheers to a great first day” appearing surrounded by fireworks.
The smile that spread on my face was so wide it hurt my cheeks. My plan to keep my distance wasn’t exactly working out, and I couldn’t say that I was mad about it. I wasn’t completely happy about it, either. I had so much to focus on. New town. New job. New guardianship of my brother. At this point, I was just trying to get through the day and not screw anything up. But I did enjoy the thrill that ran through me as I tucked the phone in my pocket and rushed out to give Destiny the samples.
When I got out to the front, I stopped short when I saw a massive bouquet of flowers sitting on the reception desk. Destiny, Bella, and a beautiful woman I didn’t know were all standing around admiring it. I’d only met Bella’s husband Colton briefly, but seeing the way he looked at her like she was his oxygen, it didn’t surprise me that he would send her such a beautiful arrangement.
“Wow, Bella. Those are beautiful!” I said as I stepped up beside the three women.
“Yes, they are.” The three of them shared a look that made me feel like I was missing something. Then my new boss grinned at me with a twinkle in her eyes. “Too bad they’re not mine.”
“Oh, sorry. I just thought…”
The beautiful blonde who had a very Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield fifties-pinup-girl look about her, smiled at me. “You must be Kelsi.”
“Yes, I am. Hi, are you my two o’clock?” I couldn’t remember the name on the appointment slip, and Bella had been the one to book it. It was only one-thirty, but since I was done with Destiny, I could clean the room and be ready in just a few minutes.
“No, I’m not. But after seeing your work…” Marilyn-Jayne motioned to Destiny who did Madonna-style-Vogue hands around her face. “I will definitely be making an appointment.”
“Great!” I could barely contain the excitement bubbling up in me.
My first day couldn’t be going any better.
When I’d come in this morning, I’d been concerned that word might’ve gotten out about Milo breaking into The Tipsy Cow. I’d had a whole speech prepared to try and save my job, but it was completely unnecessary. Bella had heard about Milo’s after-hours activities, but she’d set my mind at ease immediately by telling me about a “stunt” her daughter had pulled when she’d flown from Oregon to Texas without letting anyone know about it.
All the time I’d taken care of Milo when he was younger, I’d always felt like a walking joke. “I’m not a mom, but I play one on TV.” I wasn’t his mom, but that had always been the role I played. No one took me seriously. Before I’d followed bad-boy number three to Wisconsin, I’d raised Milo with all the responsibility and none of the authority. It was still tough for me to see myself as the person with both.
Talking to Bella about Sadie helped that. Maybe it was because both kids were the same age and Bella was only a few years older than me that we bonded over shared experiences. She said that she understood kids doing things that were out of character and that she’d also heard from Mr. O’Sullivan that Milo was hardworking, smart, funny, and a good boy.
Hearing what Bryson’s dad said had made me tear up. Milo was a good kid. He was just a little lost right now, and it was my fault. So I had to fix it.
I hoped being around Bella would help. I’d met Sadie briefly and whatever Bella was doing, it was working. Sadie was a bright, beautiful, sweet girl. Colton seemed great, too. I recognized him from a reality show that I’d seen a few years ago, and when I blurted that out I thought I’d put my foot in my mouth, but he’d been gracious and even filled me in on the other contestants.
Everyone I’d met had been so welcoming and kind. I felt like the luckiest person in the world to have stumbled upon the job listing. I wanted to do everything I could not to mess this up, for Milo and for me. So that meant I needed to build a client base.
I opened my hands revealing the toners and lotions. “I have some samples if you’d like to try some of my products.”
“Yes, please.” Marilyn-Jayne held out her hand.
I distributed them to both her and Destiny. Then I realized I had no idea what her real name was. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’m Delilah. My family owns The Flower Pot.” She pointed across the street at the shop. “And these,” she waved her hand in front of the flowers, “are for you.”
I placed my hand over my chest. “For me?”
She nodded.
“Are you sure?” I thought there must be a mistake.
She nodded and pointed to the envelope that had my name on it tucked into the baby’s breath. As I reached for it, I remembered that Russell had texted me last night to see how things were going. I hadn’t texted him back because it was when we were making banana splits at Bryson’s and by the time I got home, I’d forgotten about it completely. Now I remembered him ending the text saying he missed me. Maybe this was his way of showing it. It didn’t seem like something he’d do, though. In all the years we’d been together, he’d never gotten me flowers, but maybe the saying was true that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
When I opened the card, my jaw dropped.
There was a handwritten note that said:
I hope these flowers make you smile and make your day because just thinking of your smile makes mine. And…if they don’t…it’s okay to lie to me and say they did.
P.S. Consider this me starting “the game.”
P.S.S. I play to win and all’s fair in love and war.
P.S.S.S. Your move.
P.S.S.S.S. If you read all the Ss it sounds like I’m telling you a secret.
P.S.S.S.S.S. I like you a lot. Don’t tell anyone.
P.S.S.S.S.S.S. JK, tell everyone. I just did by sending you these flowers.
Bryson AKA The Sexy Guy You Almost Kissed By The Pond
I read the card twice, and one thing was certain; I wouldn’t have to lie about the smile that was on my face.
“Sorry, I told him that I would not under any circumstances send it unless I got your permission, but he insisted I take it and send it to him,” Delilah said. “He’s kinda bossy.”
I looked up confused about what she was talking about and saw Delilah was holding her phone pointed at me.
“Aww,” Bella sighed. “He did?”
“Let’s see it,” Destiny enthused.
Delilah turned the device. My face filled up the screen. I was smiling from ear to ear as I looked down at the card.
“Aww,” Bella repeated. “You look so happy. Are you going to let her send it?”
Before I could answer the bell that hung above the door jingled. A girl with long black hair and striking, light blue eyes walked in. She looked familiar but she was so stunning I was sure that I would’ve remembered if I’d met her. “Whoa! When you said he got flowers, you weren’t kidding!”
“I know, right?!” Delilah nodded.
The familiar-but-not dark-haired girl stepped up to me and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Jade. Bryson’s sister.”
“Ohhhh, okay. I thought you looked familiar. I saw pictures of you at your brother’s, but you were younger then so I didn’t….” I was saying too much. It didn’t matter. “Hi, I’m Kelsi.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Kelsi. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Jade smiled even bigger, and she wagged her brows. “And you saw the pictures at my brother’s house, huh?”
“Oh no!” I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea, which would be easy to do considering what I’d just said. “It wasn’t like that. I wasn’t at his house. I mean I was there but with my brother, Milo. He had to return something to Bryson…and then pizza came…and then Goliath needed to be walked…and then there was ice cream…and that was it.”
All four women just stared at me silently.
“Well…that might be it to you,” she tilted her head toward the flowers, “but obviously my brother has different ideas.”
Delilah’s phone dinged, she glanced down at it. “Wow. Bossy and impatient. He wants to know if you liked them and for me to send the picture.”
“What picture?” Jade asked.
“Bry asked Delilah to take a picture of Kelsi when she read the card.” Bella filled Jade in.
Jade turned to Delilah. “Did you take it?”
Delilah flipped the phone so that Jade could see.
“Aww,” Jade’s reaction was the same as Bella’s. Then she clapped her hands. “Okay, that’s sweet…but my brother’s ego is big enough.” She looked right at me and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think we need to add to it, do you?”
I liked this girl.
“No,” I answered.
“Good.” She grabbed the phone and pointed it at me. “Okay, read the card again but don’t look so happy. Don’t look mad either, just look like you feel sorry for him.”
“Yeah,” Delilah nodded her head, “Look like you think it’s weird that he would send you them.”
“Like it’s awkward that he did!” Bella added. “Like it makes you uncomfortable.”
I did my best to convey all of the things they said and after Jade snapped a few she squealed. “That’s the one.”
When she showed it to all of us, we all busted out laughing. She went to send it, and I stopped her. “Wait. Don’t you think that’s a little mean? I’m not sure you should send it.”
Bryson had been nothing but kind, generous, and amazing to Milo and me. As funny as I thought taking the picture was, I didn’t want him to think that that was the reaction I’d had.
She paused and looked at me for so long I wasn’t sure if I’d said the wrong thing. Like maybe this was some small town initiation that I’d unwittingly been a part of and just failed. But then her lips turned up. “You’re going to do just fine.”
I didn’t usually care what people thought about me. Growing up with my mother forced me to get thick skin out of necessity. But for some reason, the fact that I’d earned Jade’s respect, or approval made me feel good. Really good.
“How about this? We send him the fake picture first, then a few seconds later we send him the real one.”
“Or,” Bella jumped in. “We send him both and tell him to guess which one the real one is.”
“Wait…I have the perfect thing…” Delilah typed on her phone before turning her wrist so we could see it. It was a video of both reactions playing over and over with a red hand hovering over them and directions for him to push the hand and find out. “He presses the hand, and it stops on a picture. See.”
She did, and it stopped on the smile. After a few seconds the pictures started flipping again, and when she pressed the hand, it stopped on the “yuck” face. We all started laughing.
“How did you do that?” I asked.
“It’s the No Whammies app. You can put anything in it. I use it to pick what I’m going to eat, what workout I’m going to do, my house chores. I’m horrible at making decisions.”
“That’s really cool.” I wondered about getting it for Milo. He was going to be thirteen in a few weeks, and I’d been planning on getting him a phone. At least, that was the plan before he broke into a bar in the middle of the night. Now, I guess I just had to wait and see.
“Can I send it?” Delilah asked, and all the girls’ heads turned towards me.
Danger zone. Danger zone. Danger zone.
After covering my internal voice’s mouth, I said, “Send it.”
I was wrong. My day could get better.