Soaring (Magdalene #2)(42)

It was early.

It took forever to fall asleep.

But I finally did it and wished I didn’t.

Because when I did, I dreamed of watching Mickey marry a tall, beautiful redhead who was not me.

* * * * *

Rushing out the door before the furniture truck even pulled away after they made their deliveries the next morning, I drove hell on wheels into Magdalene.

I parked on Cross Street.

I hoofed it to Weatherby’s Diner.

I immediately spied Josie and Alyssa sitting in a booth, ready for me. I knew this because they were seated on the same side and three glasses of ice water were in front of them.

And I ignored their looks of shock when they saw me walk in, makeup-less, hair pulled back in a ponytail and I knew looking pale and frantic.

I slid in across from them as Alyssa breathed, “Oh my God, honey, you look like—”

“I need a makeover,” I announced.

Alyssa clamped her mouth shut.

They stared at me.

Then I jumped when suddenly Josie went flying out the side of the booth.

This was because Alyssa shoved her out.

Josie righted herself and whirled, eyes narrow, face full of fury, tone frosty. “What on earth?”

Alyssa, who didn’t hesitate in exiting the booth she’d shoved Josie out of, waved in her face.

“No time,” she muttered then looked to the long counter. “Marjorie. Three patty melts. I’ll send someone from the salon to pick them up in twenty.”

“I don’t want a patty melt,” Josie snapped.

Alyssa didn’t look at her. “Two patty melts and a Reuben.”

Josie got close to her. “I don’t want a Reuben. I want a Cobb salad.”

“Oh for ef’s sake!” Alyssa clipped. “Two patty melts and a Cobb salad.”

Through this, I got out of the booth too and added tentatively, “I actually wanted a chicken Caesar.”

Alyssa threw up her hands but asked a waitress who was apparently named Marjorie. “Got that?”

“Got it, babe,” Marjorie replied.

“And three Diet Cokes,” Alyssa kept going, doing this grabbing my hand and beginning to drag me to the door.

We were out on the sidewalk and Alyssa was tugging me down it in the direction of her salon, Maude’s House of Beauty (Alyssa was a hairdresser who owned her own place, this, plus Josie having a career in the fashion world, why I enlisted their support) when Josie demanded, “Can you explain why you’re acting like a lunatic?”

Alyssa stopped abruptly, causing me to crash into her, but she didn’t notice me.

She had eyes only for Josie.

“’Cause our girl here is beautiful,” she declared.

I drew in an audible breath.

But she was not finished.

“But she’s broken.”

I stared at her profile and held that breath.

Alyssa went on, “I don’t know why. I just know that shit is real. And every girl knows a makeover is the start of pickin’ up the pieces. And I’m all over that.”

She turned to me and it was then I noticed my vision had gone misty.

“You wanna share, you sock it to me,” she offered. “You don’t wanna give it, it’s all yours to keep. But I’m doin’ this and so is Josie. I get your hair. Josie gets your makeup. And both of us get your clothes.”

Suddenly, she lifted up a hand sharply, palm out to Josie and turned her eyes that way.

She did this still speaking.

“I know I walk on the skank side. I like it. It’s me. My baby likes it. Keeps him just like I want him to be. But I know better with our Amelia. You get the class but me havin’ my part doesn’t mean I’m bringin’ the trash. I’m bringin’ the va-va-va-voom ’cause with this girl’s tits and ass, she can be all over va-va-va-voom.” She turned back to me. “’Cept you’re takin’ off too much weight. Sister, you gotta eat.”

And with that and not another word, she carried on charging toward Maude’s House of Beauty, hauling me with her.

I was in her chair with a robe on before I knew what was happening and Alyssa wasn’t done bossing.

She shoved a Surface in Josie’s hands and declared, “I got a one-thirty. This doesn’t leave much time but I’m gonna get her cookin’. You’re gonna be surfin’. Use the salon’s Wi-Fi. Password’s written on a piece of paper in my top drawer. Show her what you find. Show me. Email her links. Anything we wanna pick up at a store, we’re goin’ tomorrow.” She curled her hand around my shoulder. “Anything you wanna buy, babe, you get home, open those links and go crazy. Now!” she cried excitedly. “I gotta go brew up some magic. I’ll be back.”

And she was off.

I sat in my salon robe in her salon chair staring after her.

Slowly, my eyes drifted to Josie.

She was standing beside my chair, forgotten Surface held in her hands, her eyes where Alyssa used to be.

“If you have other things—” I began.

I stopped when her eyes cut to me.

“There is nothing right now more important than what you need.”

My vision again went misty.

“This is—” I started again.

“You picking up the pieces,” she finished for me. “And this is us, at your side, helping.”