Chapter Three

Sitting on the deck with the morning sunshine raining down on her, Stephanie sipped at her tea and booted up her laptop.

To:     The Girls
From: Q
Re:     Hi

So, I’m all settled.  It’s so quiet.  Almost too quiet actually.  I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.  But, I’m trying.

The sun is shining today and I managed to find the grocery store without getting lost.  A feat in and of itself that was.  :P

Y’all need to come and visit.  California, from what I’ve seen so far, is nowhere near what HRH makes it out to be.  But then again, I haven’t ventured to Hollywood yet.

My guest room is ready and waiting.  J

Q

Gathering her things she wandered back in the house.  Today was shopping day.  Stephanie had been through her closet and found one pair of jeans that fit.  Sort of.  If she wore a belt and had it on the last hole they didn’t threaten to leave her indecently exposed if she coughed.  What had happened to her?  She studied the woman in the mirror.   

She had always been a curvier sort.  Full figured she guessed some would say.  Her jean size always hovered between a 12 and 14, much to her dismay.  There had been a few thin years though, right after she’d had her son, when she could get herself into a size 8 with no trouble.  Then she’d turned 35.  All of a sudden the weight started creeping back on.  But now, she looked down at herself, it was all gone again.  She palmed her breasts and lifted slightly.  Even her boobs were disappearing. 

She sighed and dragged on her robe. She was going to have to start from the skin and work her way out today.  A whole new wardrobe from bras to boots was the order of the day. 

Risking a glance in the mirror she frowned at herself.  She really had let everything go.  Her brows were in dire need of a good plucking and her hair was a disaster.  She sighed.  She couldn’t let her friends see her like this.  She’d scare them right back to the east coast. She’d have to add a trip to the salon to her list as well.  If she could find one.  She rolled her eyes at that thought.  Her GPS was certainly going to get a work out today.

After a quick shower she hopped in her car, put the top down and headed into metropolitan, downtown Burbank.  In his Australian accent her GPS directed her to turn left on West Magnolia Boulevard and her destination would be on the right.  

Slowing to a stop she glanced up at the building and then frowned at her GPS.  “Really Jack, this is where you want me to go?”  She looked back up at the pink and black sign.  Frenchy’s Beauty Parlor it read.  “Sounds like it came straight out of Grease” she mumbled as she parked the car and put the top up.

Stepping through the door she felt as though she had stepped back in time to the 1950s. Pink, black and chrome greeted her from every surface.  The black and white tile floor gleamed in the fluorescent light and the receptionist snapped her gum with a smile.  “Can I help ya?”

Stephanie looked around once more and decided that as long as she didn’t end up looking like an Easter egg, why not.  She glanced at the girl’s name tag.  “Sally, I was just wondering if I could make an appointment.”

Sally checked her book.  “It just so happens that we had a cancellation this morning.”  She held up her finger, “just a sec.”  She walked over to talk with one of the girls and then came back to where Stephanie was standing.  “Rosie will be right with ya.  Just have a seat.”

Stephanie smiled at the girl.  “Thanks.”

Three hours and three hundred dollars later, Stephanie had a new haircut, fresh color, waxed brows and a bag full of “must have” beauty products.

Settling behind the wheel she debated about putting the top down.  She had just had her hair done after all, but the pull of the sunshine and warm air was too strong.  As the top folded back, the sun glinted off the ring on the middle finger of her left hand.  Garnets and aquamarines circled her finger.  Her birthstone and his.  His gift to her for their twentieth wedding anniversary.  She had finally put away her wedding rings before she moved, but this ring she just couldn’t take off.  It was the last sparkly gift he had ever given her. 

Raising her right hand she studied the purple stone there.  Her baby’s birthstone.  Mark had given it to her for her birthday, just a few days before their son had been born.  She had worn it ever since. 

Slipping on her sunglasses she looked up to the blindingly blue sky.  Were they looking down on her, watching over her?  Were they all right with the choices and changes she had made?  The light breeze ruffled her hair and the kiss of sunshine caressed her face.  That had to be a sign, didn’t it?  She and Mark had had the “what would you do if” conversation numerous times, but never once did it include moving across the country away from everything and everyone they knew.   But it didn’t feel wrong. 

She cranked the car over and slipped it into drive.  It felt right.

~

The Burbank Town Center was just a few minutes away from the salon on East Magnolia and she found a parking spot just outside of Old Navy.  It was as good a place as any to start.  Her phone beeped as she was shuffling through a pile of jeans.  Pulling the ‘berry from her purse she smiled when she saw the text.  Catte and Willow were working on Hath.  Her smile grew to a grin.  They were coming for a visit.

Dropping the jeans she hastily pecked out a reply. 

[1:15 PM]  OMG, I can’t believe it!  When?

She had just made it to the dressing room when her phone beeped again.

[1:30 PM]  Two weeks, just for the weekend.  A long one, Thurs-Mon.  Okay?

She nearly danced a jig.

[1:40 PM]  Perfect!  I can’t wait!!

Letting out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a scream she tried on the first of three pairs of jeans. 

“Everything okay in there?”  The clerk sounded concerned.

Stephanie poked her head out the door, “yeah, just got some good news.”

The salesgirl nodded her head and went back to folding.