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“Kenya wants to invest in Vision Tech,” Dejonae blurts.
“Kenya Alistair?” I perk up.
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there.”
If I’m going to leave Adam behind, I might as well leave him holding Kenya Alistair’s purse. The kinetic batteries aren’t cheap to produce. He’s going to need all the support he can get.
Dejonae mumbles something that sounds like ‘wow that was easy’.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing,” she sings. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I hang up and then look at my hair. Touching one of the limp curls, I sigh. If I continue like this, I’ll end up making a permanent decision based on temporary feelings.
Better to call for help.
Knowing it’s a long shot, I reach out to Island to see if she has any spots free.
“Girl, it’s a weekday. Shouldn’t you be chained to your desk like the workaholic you are?”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Touchy. Touchy.” She pauses and I hear a phone ringing in the distance. “Come on down.”
Feeling like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, I scoop my hair into a bun, grab my purse and drive to the salon.
Island looks different today. She traded her long, silver wig for a blow-out style. Her voluminous black hair is held back by a bandana made of daisies. Her lipstick is a dark brown and there are yellow highlights on her eyelids that match the daisies.
She looks stunned to see me. “I didn’t think you’d actually show.”
“I didn’t think you’d have a space available.”
“Lucky for you, my client just called and cancelled.” She throws an apron around me and ties it at my neck. “You liking your natural hair?”
I meet her eyes in the mirror. “I came to braid it again.”
“It hasn’t been that long since you let your hair down.”
I purse my lips.Why is that any of your business?“If you can’t do it today, I can come back when you have time.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She blinks. “Didn’t you say you’d always wanted to wear your natural hair out? You waited seven years for this.”
“I thought that was what I wanted.” I stare forlornly at the coils. “But natural hair takes longer to maintain. It frizzes all the time, and every wash-and-go comes out differently.”
“That’s life, baby.”
I eye Island hard for calling me ‘baby’ when I’m pretty sure she’s younger than me.
“When you let your hair out, you gotta be prepared for it to knot and tangle. You gotta accept that it’s going to do its own thing. That’s the beauty of letting something free.”
“I don’t want it to be free.” I jut my chin down sharply. “Braid it. I want it neat and contained again. I want every piece in its place.”
“You’re the boss.”
She starts clearing out my hair with conditioner and a big-toothed comb. “Have you resigned from Vision Tech yet?”
