With Love (3 page)

After stopping by a few more tiny shops, I strolled around a corner and found a large beauty shop. I entered the shop and asked the receptionist if they had time for a color and haircut. They took me in within a few minutes. The receptionist was so kind; she even took my shopping bags and came back with a cool glass of ice tea.

When the stylist came, she said, “Hi, I’m Bridget. Today is your lucky day. I usually don’t have any openings on a Saturday for months.”

“Well, good for me.”

“So what are we doing today?” Bridget asked.

“Well, I definitely need a pick-me-up.”

“Pick-me-ups are my specialty. How about we darken your hair one level and put in some soft caramel and copper highlights. Then, we should give you a frontward bob cut. You have the nicest cheekbones, so you are easily able to pull it off.”

“Why not? Believe me, I have nothing else to lose.”

As she got started, I noticed some of the pictures on her mirror.
They must be her family
, I thought. Then, as I looked over to the counter beside us, I saw that she was in photographs with some celebrities. “WOW!” I said loudly without realizing it. “Now that’s something,” I pointed to the photos.

“Yes, I meet some
interesting
people in my line of work,” said Bridget, giggling. “When I first started, the first celebrity that I ever did was Steven Tyler. Boy, did he ever make me nervous. I spilled the color everywhere, and my hands would not quit shaking. He was very nice; he laughed and laughed. When I went to make more color, I had to step outside to take a breath because I was hyperventilating. When I came back, he said, ‘Are we ready?’ I said, ‘Yes, Mr. Tyler, I am!’ He laughed some more and replied, ‘Good!’ He made jokes and told me some funny stories about what some crazy fans did back in the day. He is one of my favorite clients to this day. Sometimes, when he is waiting for his color to process, he’ll sing.”

“Huh, you must have one of the best jobs.”

“Well, they’re not all like that.”

***

The only celebrity that I have ever come across was Flavor Flav. Sam and I went to Las Vegas for three days. On the way home, while waiting at the airport, I saw Flavor Flav, standing in line in front of me. I couldn’t believe my eyes! And, of course, I couldn’t find my husband or the camera. He was outside taking a cigar break. When Sam finally came inside, I was trying to wave him over quietly. It felt like forever before he reached me because he was walking so slowly. When Sam was finally next to me, he whispered in my ear, “Who is the loud guy in front of us?”

“
Flavor Flav,” I said excitedly.

“
Like Flavor Flav with the clock from TV?”

“
Yes!”

“
Well…”

After we were done checking in at the counter with the lady from the airline, we ended up behind him on the escalator. Flavor Flav looked at us and said, “What’s up? How ya’ll doing?”

“
Great,” said Sam, pinching my butt.

I remembered looking at Flavor Flav, thinking to myself, Whatever you do, don’t pick New York. That bitch is crazy, even if she makes us laugh.

***

After Bridget was done washing my hair, she brought me back to the mirror to have a look. I really liked it; the highlights were just enough. She dried my hair just a bit before she began cutting it. As she was finishing, she turned the chair around, so I couldn’t see myself anymore.

“I want to style your hair before you get a chance to really see it,” Bridget said.

As she was blow-drying my hair, it felt good to have her fingers massage my head. When she was done, she turned the chair back around. I sat there quietly for a long time. The lady looking back at me in the mirror looked so young and refreshed. I didn’t recognize her.

“You like it?” Bridget asked.

“Like it? I love it! I don’t recognize the person in the reflection,” I said with a huge smile.

“Well, I’m glad. Now what should we do with those eyebrows?”

“Wax them; make them look girly again.”

When we were all done, she said, “That will be $400 even, please.”

“Pardon me?” I questioned with a hard swallow. It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford it. I just had never paid that much before, not for a haircut in my small town.

“The total is $400, please.”

“Okay.” As I handed her my credit card, I wondered if that already included a tip, but since I wasn’t about to ask, I gave her a tip anyway.

I walked back to the hotel, and I couldn’t help but stop when I saw myself reflected in the windows. By the time I reached the hotel, I was sauntering with my head held high.

When I got back to my room, I changed into a summer dress and put some makeup on. I told myself that for the rest of the day, I would not pity myself. When I was finished getting ready, I did a little twirl in the mirror and asked my family, “Well, how do I look?”

I headed downstairs with my camera in hand and came across the bride that I saw earlier in the breakfast nook. She now had her bridal gown on, and her hair was done. She looked lovely. Her dark hair was pulled back into a light-sweep floral bun with two rhinestone headbands in the front and the veil tucked into the back. Her wedding dress was stunning. It was a white A-line, strapless dress with ruching at the bottom; it was so simple, yet it took my breath way. Her flowers were bright and had a tropical look to them. Her four bridesmaids were all wearing a rich emerald-blue dress. That color looked great on all of them, especially with their blonde and brunette hair all pulled into a side sweep.

I couldn’t help myself. I just began to snap pictures of them. Some of them were laughing, others drinking, and the remaining hugging. It was nice to sit back and watch. I took a few more pictures when her father entered the lobby. I captured the look in his eye when he first saw her. I was instantly taken back by his love for her; she was definitely daddy’s little princess. He was silently preparing to give his daughter away. I turned around to give them their privacy.

As I rounded the corner, I bumped into something hard. I looked up and saw a man dressed in a tux with beautiful blue eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he steadied me while holding my shoulders.

“Y-yes, thank you.”

“No problem,” he said with a grin.

I turned beet red and couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I could feel my breath quicken. I lightly pushed him away, excusing myself.

“Wait. Where are you going?” he asked.

“I was just heading outside.”

“But, I would like a picture with my sister, if you don’t mind. I’m Luke; my sister’s the bride.”

“Umm…well…umm…I’m not the photographer. I am a photographer, but not a people photographer.”

“Oh. But, didn’t I just see you take one of my Dad when he came in?”

“Yes. I’m sorry; I just saw something in his eyes. I’ll delete it if you wish.”

“No, I would like to see it.”

“You want to see it?”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“Okay.” I turned around with my back to his chest, so he could see the screen on my camera.

Luke breathed in her scent.

“These look really good. I haven’t seen him with that look in his eye since my mom died,” Luke said in awe.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied as I turned around to face him. He must have noticed something in my eyes because he ran his hands down my arms.

He said, “So am I.”

As I looked at him, I could see in his eyes that we shared the same kind of pain.

“Would you please take a few pictures of my sisters and me?”

I shrugged. “If you want.”

“Yes, I do want. Then, after you’ve edited them, you will be in touch with me.”

I just stared at him with a puzzled look on my face.

When I started taking pictures, I felt like I was at home again. I even let myself giggle a few times.

Their car arrived, and they started heading out. I took a few last shots of them leaving, watching her father guide her to the car. It made me think of Sam and what it would have been like taking our daughter to her future husband—something that was never going to happen. I sighed and turned to leave. I was just about through the other set of doors when a large hand grabbed me. I jumped, totally startled.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Luke said.

“Well, you did.”

“Yes, yes, I did.”

“I just wanted to give you my business card, so you could send me those pictures.”

I looked at it.
Luke McDerment of McDerment Industries. Architectural software.
I started to walk again.

“Wait.”

I turned slowly. “Yes?”

“Would you please join me…I mean, us?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Please?” he asked with his hand out.

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not the photographer. I don’t know you or your family. So it’s really not my place.”

I turned around and left, walking down the street.
What was I thinking?
What was I doing? This is just nuts! Oh, but I did enjoy it.
I kept strolling down the street with a small grin on my face.

The next afternoon I sat with my laptop and my last glass of wine, leaving the French doors wide open. I was wearing my short shorts and a tight T-shirt with my hair in a pulled-up messy look. I had my music blaring, getting ready to edit those wedding pictures. I started dancing—okay, in all honesty, I was drinking and dancing sexily to the music playing on iTunes when I heard a knock on my door.

Not thinking anything of it, I yelled, “Come on in and leave the bottle on the table.” I kept on dancing; it felt so good to feel alive, even though I knew it was the wine at one in the afternoon, but I didn’t care. When “Crazy Bitch” by Buckcherry came on, I grabbed my now empty wine bottle, jumped on the bed, and gave the best damn karaoke I could—sexy dance and all.

Just as I am yelling the last line, I heard roaring laughter. It scared the shit out of me, and I fell off the bed.

Then, all I heard was “Are you okay?”

I was so scared to look up, so I just said, “Yeah, it happens all the time.”

Stupid! Seriously, did I just say that?

“Really?” a male voice said in a chuckling tone.

“Um, yeah. You can just leave the wine on the table. Thank you.”

I lay quietly huddled on the floor, waiting for the door to shut. Slowly, I decided to peek out from behind the bed. Standing there was the man I saw yesterday in the tux with those beautiful blue eyes. He was leaning on the doorframe, laughing quietly. Except this time, he was wearing blue jeans and a white dress shirt.

I stood up quickly and brushed down my shorts—well, okay, my legs because I was wearing short shorts. “What are you doing here? How did you get in? Why are you watching me?”

This all came out in one sentence in a yelling tone.

He just stood there with a big grin on his face. “Well, I thought I’d come and take a look at those pictures from yesterday. I know Meg, and she let me up. Your door was open.” He offered me the bottle of wine. I took the bottle and placed it near my laptop. “Moscato. Very nice.”

“Well, I haven’t edited them yet.”

“I can see that,” he said with a smile.

“When I’m finished, I’ll be more than happy to email them to you.”

“It’s alright. I’m here now, so we can edit them together,” he suggested.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
God, I wish I was wearing something longer on my legs.

He started walking across the room.

“Wait, what are you doing? You can’t just come in here! I don’t even know you,” I said, panicking a little.

“My apologies. My name is Luke, remember? And, you are?”

“Ally. It’s short for Alyson.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Ally-Alyson.”
God, she smelled so good, simple like a sunny day
, Luke thought.

By this time, he was standing right in front of me. I lightly pushed him away.

“You really need to leave Luke.”
Why does this man have to smell so yummy? WAIT…WHAT?!

“Okay.” Luke then grabbed my laptop and headed out to the living room.

“Wait, what are you doing?”

“Well, I wanted to see what kind of photographer you are, so we’re gonna look at the photos together and edit them.”

I shut the adjoining door and slid down to the floor, trying to breathe.
What the hell?!
I haven’t been this close to a man since Sam died eight months ago. What would Sam think with another man in my room? Oh God
,
I thought, looking at what I was wearing. I just wanted to puke.

I got up and changed into sweatpants. Then, I went to see what Luke really wanted. I opened the doors quietly and tried to peek at him to see what he was looking at. He was seated in the middle of the couch, concentrating on the screen on my laptop. As I opened the door more, he looked up and then returned his gaze back to the laptop.

“Wow, these turned out great. You even captured the light in my dad’s eyes,” he complimented.

I sheepishly smiled. “Thank you. I’m sorry that I intruded on your sister’s moment. I just couldn’t help myself.”

Luke looked up and grinned. “Don’t be; it was the highlight of my afternoon. How long have you been doing this?”

“About six years, but I haven’t done anything in eight months. I was just playing around.”

“What made you stop?” he questioned.

It was right then and there that I stopped breathing.

“Ally, are you okay? You look pale. Ally?”

Before I fell to the floor, Luke caught me in his hands, guiding me to the floor.

“Breathe, Ally. Breathe.”

Tears just started flowing; they were uncontrollable. I couldn’t move away from Luke. “Please, Luke. You need to leave.”

“Alyson?”

“Please. Please leave.”

As Luke left, looking behind him, all he wanted to do was cradle Ally. The devastation in those tears was very hard to turn away from.