She sits at the table, with a wonderful meal in front of her. But she is nowhere near hungry, nor does she have the will to force herself to eat anything. Thoughts of him are haunting her, and she can’t do anything without remembering something about him. It may only be a run-of-the-mill salad, but that isn’t what she’s really seeing in front of her. What she sees is their first meal, their first date. And to think, they may have never met if it wasn’t for fate, circumstance, luck, karma........
She was visiting her best friend of twenty years for an extended weekend. And of course, Donna had a couple very important clients scheduled for colors and cuts that Saturday morning, so she had to go in. So she rode along to The Mane Event, one of Chicago’s best salons for men and women. Though she had only been there for five years, Donna was gaining quite the reputation, and had just added two new stylists. After attending to Mrs. Wentworth and Kenny Valance, Donna would give her a trim too. In fact, that was what was happening the moment her whole world changed in the instant their eyes met in the mirror.
He was not thrilled to be getting up this early, not at all, after that late night last night. If the bus had not had a flat, he would have slept, but as it was, he’d heard the tire go, and could not let Jimmy handle it on his own. The chill and noise of the freeway had woken him up to the point that he could not fall immediately to sleep once the chore was done. Then Devin had made him this hair appointment. Jesus!! Weren’t rock stars supposed to have long hair? Unruly hair? No! Devin said tonight was different. Tonight they were playing a small club in Chicago, mainly for the record execs. So he had to have the works done today: shampoo, condition, highlights, shine dip, and trim. No barber shop either, no sir. He was going to march himself into the best little shop in Chicago, The Mane Event, Devin called it. He was trying hard not to doze off standing up, so he was only half-listening as Dev gave the cabbie directions, and the instructions to wait for him.
He walked into The Mane Event and gave his name to the receptionist, then sat down. Ugh! The smell in these places was grotesque! Who needed a ...what did they call it? A perm. Who needed it? What man would be caught dead in here? But as he looked around, he noticed that the place looked kinda new, and wasn’t all girly and pink. It was a rather classy-looking joint, in silvers and blues, a place a guy could come and not feel bad. In fact, he thought he saw Kenny Valance, Chicago’s most famous DJ, getting his hair cut. Well, this might not be so bad. He’d get up and go talk to Kenny, kill some time, see if they had their new album at WXLS to play.
He walked over and sat in the chair next to Kenny. “Heya Kenny, how’s it hanging over at the station??”
“Well, hey my man! Long time, no see. What’s new?”
“You should be telling me. Didn’t you guys get our new album, Exodus? I thought you’d be telling me how great it is by now.”
“Of course we’ve got it, and put it in major rotation too. Getting requests all the time. Pretty hot for only your third album. You guys playing tonight? I didn’t see anything at the station...”
“Well yeah, but it’s an exec show. I noticed your name on the guest list, so Dev must be calling you today. It’s the works tonight, and Dev dragged me here.”
“Not to worry. This place will do you right. Not too girly either.”
Across the room, an attractive, frosted blonde turned from the sink. “I heard that!” Donna said. She turned to Kenny. “Just because you’re some hot shot, Kenny, don’t be giving my new customers a hard time.” Though short in stature, she commanded attention as she crossed the room, the authority of an owner present in her demeanor. She walked over to the men, and held out her hand to shake with the newcomer. “Don’t let Kenny here give you a hard time. We have plenty of men come in here and leave gorgeous. We know how to treat them right.”
Kenny said, “Now Donna, do you really think I’d give you free plugs if I didn’t love ya? You are the reason I am gorgeous.”
“Kenny, honey, flattery will get you everywhere! Now, who is your friend here?”
“Donna this is Voz. He’s got himself a little group you may have heard on WXLS...”
“Jury!” Donna squealed. “Oh I love you guys! Geez, I should’ve known it was you, but why in the heck would you be in my place?”
“It’s only the best place in Chicago, and of course, Voz has taste. Tonight Jury is doing a show for the record execs, so make him look good will ya?” Kenny laughed.
“Oh, well, Voz, when you’re starting out like this, there’s not much we can do to improve perfection.”
Voz turned about ten shades of red. “Thanks,” he said as he ducked his head.
Donna turned to Sheila. “Sheila, when you and Trisha are done yakking there, your next customer is here. Check the notes for what you need to do. And this one is on the house.” When Sheila saw whom she was going to be working on, it took her no time at all to escort Trisha out the door.
Voz thanked Donna. “I’d like to know if you and your husband were interested in coming to the show tonight. We have a few tickets left, and Kenny is going......”
“How did you know......”
“I saw the picture of you with your husband, kids, and sister on the wall over there when I walked in.”
“Sister?”
“Yeah, the pretty one holding your youngest boy in the picture.”
“Oh honey, you’re very observant, but that’s not really my sister, it just feels like she is. That’s Raina, my best friend. We’ve known each other for twenty years, since we were kids. In fact, she’s here. I was just about to cut her hair, so she’s sitting over there, waiting for me.” She gestured to the strawberry blonde reading the latest issue of Folks. “Raina! Look who’s here.”
She looked up and met his eyes in the mirror. It was just one of those freaky things that happen; it had to be. After all, wouldn’t logic say that he should look over at her and she should turn toward the voices? Not in this case, in this case their eyes locked in the mirror. Her breath caught and time seemed to stop, then everything returned to normal a split-second later.
Donna introduced her to Voz and Kenny. They exchanged hellos and then Kenny said he must run. “Tons to do before tonight. I will see you there, right Donna?”
“Well, it just so happens that we had a sitter tonight for a movie, so I’ll sweet talk Bob into going. Now Kenny, since I know you can’t get a date on short notice...”
“Excuse me?”
“...I think it would be really nice if you would take Raina. Then we can get a table much easier in Fortello’s as couples.”
Raina blanched! How humiliating to be set up, and in front of these people!! “Donna, that’s quite alright. I can stay and watch the kids while.....”
“Oh no, honey. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a beautiful and classy date. I’ll get Donna’s address from the receptionist and my car and I will pick you all up at seven-thirty.” With that, Kenny kissed Raina’s hand and was out the door.
Next Sheila cut between them. “Sorry to interrupt,” she claimed, though Donna could tell by the sparkle in her eye that Sheila was more than eager to get started. “My instructions say to be sure our new client is out of here by ten-thirty, so I’d best get started. Mr. D’Oro, follow me back to the sinks, and we’ll get you going.”
Voz rose from the chair, and gave Raina a shy smile. “Kenny can be a bit pushy sometimes, but you’ll have fun. Nice meeting you – see you tonight.” He turned to thank Donna again before following Sheila to the shampoo room.
Donna’s eyes were full of excitement. She’d wanted Raina to settle into a relationship, but hadn’t been very successful in finding someone for her friend. Raina was overly gun-shy after being burned so badly in that last disastrous relationship, if you could call it that. Oh how lucky this prospect was on the horizon! Actually, either Kenny or Voz could be good for Raina. Now if only her friend would relax...
“C’mon Raina, sweetie. We’ve got two of us to get presentable for tonight.”
...........
It was very nearly a relief to get into Kenny’s limo. Donna had not let up for a minute. She had played with Raina’s hair for nearly an hour, trying to get just right that unkempt, upswept, just-rolled-out-of-bed look on both of them. Then there was talking Bob into going. He wasn’t easy, moaning about dressing for Fortello’s - never mind that he also enjoyed Jury’s music. Finally, their tones became hushed beyond the closed door, and Raina was sure that Donna was telling Bob that they needed to get poor Raina a chance out in the social world before she died of boredom. As if Raina never went to dinner, never went to concerts, never socialized! Sheesh! You didn’t die just for lack of a steady relationship, but Donna had had enough of Raina being alone. And she knew that Raina was tired of it, too, admit it or not.
Good thing both women were nearly the same size, or Raina would’ve had to endure shopping too. Despite the height difference, the black cocktail dress sprinkled with glittery, silvery flowers suited her. Shoes were a different story. Luckily, Raina and the neighbor wore the same size, so she was well put-together despite the last-minute hurried-feeling way she felt.
Kenny opened a bottle of champagne and entertained the group with stories of what had happened at WXLS that week. The trip seemed so short; they were soon at Fortello’s and being escorted to a reserved table on the side of the club.
The show was opening with a drum and guitar duel, so only two of the bandmembers were on stage while they were being seated and served their first round.
The club blackened, then a single, tight spotlight revealed Voz. Oh, Sheila had done a wonderful job, as Voz had the shiniest dark hair that Raina had ever seen. His silk shirt was blindingly white and opened halfway, showing off his olive skin, and tucked into snug-fitting black pants. The audience was carried away from the moment he began the song acapella; the famous voice mesmerized.
He felt fine after the first song was over, his nervousness vanished. The stage felt like his, he had broken it in, and he began to banter with the audience. He teased those he knew between songs, making jokes, all the while looking for Kenny’s table. Where were they?